yp^
\W'i
' * '\''' i
'Xs
«'<
^
A
»%'•
•" M Mm I
N THE CUSTODY OP THE
BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.
SHELF N°
iJ
flf
THE
H ISTOR Y
O F
HERODOTUS:
Tranflated from the Greek
By Isaac Little bury.
VOL. II.
The Third Edition.
L O :N B O N:
Printed for D. Midwintee., A. Bettesworth and
C. Hitch, J. and J. Pe m b e rto n, R. Ware,
C. RiviNGTON, J. Batley and J. Wood, F. Clay,
A. Ward, J. and P. Knapton, T. Lonoman, and
R. Hett. M.DCC.XXXVII.
ADAMS
13 1. 3
^.k.
[ n
THE
Hiftory of Herodotus,
BOOK V.
TERPSICHORE.
HE Perfians, lefc in Europe under the
Orders of Megahyzus^ fubdued the
Perinthiansfirft of all theHellefpon-
tins, for refufing to fubmic to Z)^n^/,
tho' they had before been con fidera-
bly weaken'd by the Pasonians. For thePasoni-
ans, who inhabit upon the River Strjmon^ had
been admonifh'd by an Oracle to invade the
Perinthians *, and if they fhould draw out their
Forces, and with Clamours provoke the Paso-
nians by Name to fight, then to engage j other-
wife not. The Paeonians did as they were in-
ftrudled : And the Perinthians marchins: out,
encamp'd before their City. Upon which a
Challenge enfued, and three fingle Combats
were fought : The firft, of two Men ; the
Vol. II. A fecond.
2 HERODOTUS.
Second, of two Horfes; and the third, of two
Dogs. The Perinthians already vidorious in
two of thefe Duels, were fo full of Joy that
they began to fing the Song of Triumph:
When the Paeonians recolledling the Anfwer
of the Oracle, faid among themfelves, " The
" Prediction is now accomplifh'd : Our Work
" is next: " And immediately falling upon
the Perinthians as they were finging, gave
them fo great a Blow, that few efcap'd out
of the Field. In this manner the Perinthians
were defeated by the Pseonians: But againft
Megahyzus they behav'd themfelves with the
Valour that becomes Men fighting for Li-
berty ; and were opprefs'd only by the Num-
bers of the Perfians. After the taking of Pe-
rinthusy Megabyziis advanc'd with his Army,
and reduc'd all the Cities and Nations of I'hrace
to the Obedience of the King. For Darius
had commanded him to fubdue the Thracians.
This Nation is the greatefl of any among Men,
except the Indians: And in my Opinion, if the
Thracians were either under the Government
of one Perfon, or unanimous in their Coun-
fels, they would be invincible, and the flrongeil
People of the World. But becaufe this is ex-
tremely difficult, or rather impoffible, they are
of little Strength. They go under feveral
Names according to the Places they inhabit;
but all obferve the fame Cuftom::, except the
Getes, the Traufes, and the Crr-itoneans, who
are feated in the uppermoft Parts. I have al-
ready fpoken of the Cufloms of the Getes
relating to Immortality. The Traufes differ
in nothing from the reft of the Thracians, except
in the Manners obferv'd at the Times of their
3 Nativity
BookV. TERPSICHORE. |
Nativity and Death. When a Child is born,
his Relations fitting in a Circle about him, de-
plore his Condition, on account of the Evils
he muft fuffer in the Courfe of Life j enume-
rating the various Calamities incident to Man-
kind. But when a Man is dead, they inter
him with Exultation and Rejoicings, repeating
the Miferies he has exchang'd for a compleac
Felicity. Among the Creftoneans who inhabit
the higheft Part of 'Thrace^ every Man has
many Wives ; and at his Death all thefe Wo-
men, ftrongly fupported by their feveral Friends,
contend fiercely, who fhall be accounted to
have been moft dear to the Husband. In the
end, fhe who is adjudg'd to have merited that
Honour, having received great Commendations
both from the Men and Women, iskill'dupon
the grave by the neareft: of her Relations,
and buried together with the Man: Which is
a great Mortification to the reft, becaufe ac-
counted the utmoil Difgrace. The refl of the
Thracians fell their Children for Tranfportaii-
on: and take no care of their Daughters ; but
fuffer them to entertain as many Men as they
hke. Neverchelefs they keep their Wives un-
der a ftrifl Guard, and purchafe them of their
Relations at a great Rate. To be mark'd on
the Forehead is honourable; and a Man with«
out fuch Marks is accounted ignoble. Idle-
nefs is eileem'd decent; Husbandry unbe-
coming; and to fubfift by War and Rapine
is thought glorious. Thefe are the mod con-
fiderable Cuftoms of this Nation. For their
Gods, they v/orfhip only Mars^ Bacchus and
Diana. But their Kings, befides the national
Deities, adore Hermes with great Religions
A 2 fwearing
4 HERODOTUS.
fwearing by his Name alone, and pretending
to be defcended from him. The Funerals of
eminent Perfons are celebrated in this manner.
They expofe the Corps to publick View du-
ring three Days ; and after they have performed
their Lamentations, they facrifice all kinds of
Animals, and apply themfelves to feafting.
Then they either burn, or bury the Body in the
Ground : And having thrown up a Mound of
Earth over the Grave, celebrate all manner of
Agoniftical Exercifes round the Place ; appoint-
ing the greateft Prizes for thofe who fight
fingle Combats. And fuch are their funeral
Rites. Concerning the Northern Parts of this
Region, no Man can certainly affirm by what
People they are pofiefs'd. But thofe beyond
the Danube are wild and impradlicable ; inha-
bited by no other Men, that I have heard of,
but the Sigynes, who wear the Median Habit,
and have Horfes cover'd over with Hair, like
Briftles five Digits long ; low of Stature, un-
able to carry a Rider, and having fhorc Nofes
turning upward: Yet they draw a Chariot with
Swiftnefs and the Inhabitants ufe them to that
end. Next adjoining to thefe, aretheHenetes,
who dwell in Adria^ and fay they are a Colony
of the Medes. But by what means that Colony
came thither, I cannot affirm ; tho' nothing
be impoffible to happen in length of Time.
The Ligurians, who inhabit beyond MarjeilleSy
call the Sigynes, Brokers; and the Cvprians
give them the Name of Javelins. The Thraci-
ans fiy, that the Parts which lie beyond the
Danube are full of Bees, and on that account
impuffable. But I chink their AfTertion carries
no Appearance of Truth j becaufethat Animal
cannot
BookV. TERPSICHORE. 5
cannot endure the Cold ; and lam inclined to
believe that the exceQive Froft of the Nor-
thern Climates, are the only Caufe why thofe
Countries are uninhabited. But I have faid
enough concerning thefe Parrs: Of which Me^
gabyzus reduc'd all the maritim Places to the
Obedience of Darius.
NO fooner was Darius arrived at Sardis^
after he had repafs'H the Hellefpont, than remem-
bering the good Offices of //i/?z>«JtheMilefian,
and the Counfel of C^^j of Mitylene^ he fent for
both thofe Perfons, and gave them the Choice
of their Recompence. Hijliaus being already
Tyrant of Miletus^ demanded no other Domi»
nion ; and only defir'd theEdonian Myrcims, in
order to build a City there. Bui Coes^ who was
a private Man, and pofTefs'd of no Govern-
ment demanded the Dominion of Mitykne.
They eafily obtained all they defir'd, and then
departed to take PoflTefiion. About the fame
time, by means of a certain Accident, Darius
took a Refolution to command Megahyzus to
tranfplant the P^onians out o^ Europe into AJja,
For Pigres and Maftye^ two Pasonians, being
defirous to become Mafters of Poeonia^ came
to Sardis after the Return of Darius^ accom-
panied by their Sifter, who was a tall and beau-
tiful Perfon : And obferving Darius one Day
fitting in the Suburbs of the Lydians, they
drefs*d their Sifter in the beft manner they
could, and fent her down to the River ; carry-
ing a Pitcher on her Head, leading a Horfeby
a Bridle . hanging upon her Arm, and at the
fame time fpinninga Thred from her DiftafF.
Darius looking upon the Maid with Attention
as fhe pafs'd by j becaufe her manner was alto-
A 3 gcther
6 HERODOTUS.
gether different from the Cuftoms, not only of
the Perfian and Lydian Women, but of any other
in Jfia, order'd fome of his Guards toobferve
what (he would do with the Horfe. The
Guards follow'd her, and found that when fhe
came down to the River, fhe water'd the Horfe,
and having fili'd her Pitcher, returned again by
the fame way y carrying the Water on her Head,
leading her Horfe, and fpinning, as fhe had
done before. Darius no lefs furpriz'd with the
Account they gave, than with what he himfelf
had feen, commanded her to be brought into
his Prefence: Where flie was no fooner intro-
duc'd, than her Brothers, who had obferv'd all
that pafs'd, appear'd likewife ; and when Darius
ask'd who fhe was, the young Men made an-
fwer, that they were Psonians, and that the
Maid was their Sifter. The King proceeding
to enquire, what fort of Men the Pseonians
were; in what Part of the World they liv'd;
and upon what Motive they themfelves came to
Sardis\ receiv'd for Anfwer, that they came to.
put themfelves under his Protection ; that P^-
onia is fituate upon the River Strynon^ not far
from the Hellefpont\ and that the People area
Colony of Teucrians, from the City ot 5r^3?.
When they had given Account of thefe particu-
lars, Z)^wj farther demanded, if all the Wo-
men of that Country were as indufirious as their.
Sifter : And ihe P^onians, who had contriv'd
the whole Defign to no other End, readily an-
wer'd, they were. Upon which a MefTenger
was dilpatch'd on Horfeback, with Letters
from the King to Megah'jzus^ General of his
Forces in Thrace % requiring him to compel the
Paponians to leave their Country, and pafs into
BookV. TERPSICHORE. 7
yfjia with their Wives and Children. The Cou-
rier perform'd his Journey with great Expediti-
on ; pafs'd the Hellefpont^ and deliver'd the Let-
ters to Megabyzus: Who after he had read the
Contents, taking Guides in Thrace, Jed his
Army towards Pceonia, When the Pieonians
heard that the Perfians were coming to invade
them, they drew all their Forces towards the
Sea, thinking the Perfians would attempt to en-
ter that Way ; and prepared to difpute their
Pafiage. But Megabyzus^ underltanding that
the whole Strength of Paofiia was in a rea-
dinefs to receive him on that Side, took his
Way, by the Diredion of his Guides, to-
wards the upper Part of the Country : And
concealing his March from the Enemy, fell in
upon their Cities empty of Men, and eafily
poffefs'd himfelf of all. The Psonians no
fooner heard that their Cities were furpriz'd,
than they difpers'd themfelves ; and every Man
returning home, the whole Country fubmitted
to the Perfians. And in this Manner all thofe
P^onians, who were known by the Names of
Seiropasonians and Pasoplians together with the
People of thofe Parts that defcend towards the
Lake of Prafias^ were expell'd from their an-
tient Seats, and tranfported into Jfia. But
neither the Inhabitants of Mount Pang^us ; nor
the Doberes, Agrians, or Odomantes ; nor thofe
next adjoining to the Lake, were at that time
conquer'd by Megabyzus. Yet he attempted to
fubdue a People, who lived upon the Lake in
Dwellings contriv'd after this Manner : They
drive down long Piles in the Middle of the Lake
and cover them with Planks •, which being join'd
by a narrow Bridge to the Land, is the only Way
A 4 that
8 HERODO'TUS.
that leads to theii Habitations. Thefe Piles
were formerly put down at the common Charge •,
but afterwards they made a Law, to oblige all
Men, for every Wife they fhould marry, to
fix three of them in the Lake, and to cut the
Timber upon Mount Orbeks. On thefe Planks
every Man has a Hut, with the Door opening
thro' the Floor, down to the Water. They tie
a String about the Foot of their young Chil-
dren, left they fhould fall into the Lake ; and
feed their Horfes and other labouring Cattle
with Fifh ; which abound fo much there, that
when they let down an empty Basket by a
Cord thro' the Aperture of the Door, they
draw it up again in a fhort tim.e, fill'd with two
Sorts of Fi(h, call'd Papraces and Til ones,
AFTER Megahyzus had taken the Cities
of the Paeonians, he difpatch'd feven of the
principal Perfians in his Army to Macedonia,
with Orders to require Amyntas to acknowledge
King Darius by a Prefent of Earth and Water.
Macedonia is not far diftant from the Lake of
Fraftas. For, pafling by a Mine, which is
near the Lake, and afterwards yielded a Ta-
lent of Silver every Day to Alexander, Men
afcend the Mountain Dyforus ; and on the other
Side, at the Foot of the Hill, enter into the
Territories of Macedonia. When the Perfians
were arriv'd, they went to Amyntas, and de-
manded Earth and Water in the name of Da-
rius. Amyntas not only gave them v^^hat they
requir'd, but receiv'd them for his Guefts ; and
having prepar'd a magnificent Feaft, entertain'd
them with great Humanity. But as the Per-
fians were beginning to drink after Supper,
^^ Macedonian Friend, faid they, When we
4 ' " make
BookV, TERPSICHORE. p
«' make a great Feaft in Perfia, our manner is,
*« to bring in our Concubines and young Wo-
«' men to the Company : And therefore, fince
« you have received us fo afFedionately •, treat-
ii ed us with fuch Magnificence ; and own'd
<« King Darius by the Delivery of Earth and
« Water, we invite you to imitate our Cuftom.'*
Am'jntas anfwered, *' The Manner of our Coun-
«' try is quite different -, for we keep our Wo-
*' men feparated from Men : Never theJefs, be-
" caufe you are our Matters, and require
" their Attendance, we will do as you defire."
Having finifh'd thefe Words, he fcnt for the
Women ; who coming in as they were order'd,
plac*d themfelves on the other Side of the Ta-
ble oppofite to the Perfians. But when they
faw the Women were very beautiful, the Per-
fians told jim'jjttas that they were not plac'd
with Difcretion ; and that he would have done
better not to fend for them at all, than to lee
them fit at that Diftance, only to offend their
Eyes. Upon this Amyntas^ compelled by ne-
celTity, order'd the Women to fit down among
the Men : Which when they had done, the Per-
fiians, full of Wine, began to handle their
Breads ; and fome would have proceeded to
KifTes. Thefe Adtions Amyntas faw with In-
dignation ; yet feemed unconcern'd, becaufe
he was afraid of the Perfian Power. But his
Son Alexander^ who was prefenr, and obferv'd
the fame things, being a young Man and unac-
quainted with Adverficy, was no longer able
to endure their Infolence ; and therefore fa id to
Amyntas : " Father, confider your Age ; and
" leaving the Company, retire to your Refl.
[^ I will ftay here, and furnifh thefe Strangers
«' with
lo HERODOTUS.
" with all things neceflary." Amyntas perceiving
that Alexander had fome rafh Defign to put in
Execution ; " Son, faid he, I pretty well dif-
" cern by thy Words, that thou art angry, and
<« art refolv'd to attempt fome imprudent Afti-
" on in my Abfence. I charge thee therefore
«' to do nothing againft thefe Men that may
«« turn to our Difadvantage : But be contented
" to obferve their Adlions with Patience ; and
" for my own Part, I will comply, and retire."
When Afnjntas had given him this Counfel,
and was gone out, Alexander fpoke to the Per-
fians in thefe Terms; " Friends, faid he, thefe
Women are at your command : You may lie
with all, or as many of them as pleafe you
«' bed ; and therefore I defire you to declare
*' your Intentions with Freedom : For I lee
«' you are inclin'd to fleep, and abundantly re-
*' plenifh'd with Wine. Only permit them,
" if you think fit, to go out to bathe ; and in
*^ a little time you may exped: their Return.'*
The Perfians applauded his Propof-il, and Alex*
ander fending away the Women, ordei'd them
to their own Apartment : And having drefs'd
a like Number of fmooth young Men in the
Habit of Women, he furnilli'd every one with*
a Ponyard, and introducing them to the Per-
fians, fiid : «' We have treated you with all
«' manner of Variety: We have given you not
*' only all we had, but whatever we could pro-
" cure : And, which is more than all the reft,
'' we have not denied you our Matrons and
" Daughters to compleat your Entertainment:
•' that you may be abundantly perfuaded, we
*' have paid you all the Honours you deferve ;
^' and at your Return may acquaint the King
^^ who
BookV. TERPSICHORE. n
*' who fent you, that a Grecian Prince of
< Macedonia^ gave you a good Reception both
*' at Table and Bed." Having thus fpoken,
Alexander plac'd at the Seat of every Perfian
a young Macedonian in the Difguife of a Wo-
man ; who, when the Perfians attempted to
carefs them, immediately difpatch'd all the
Seven. This was the Fate of thefe Perfians,
and of their Attendants *, who, together with
the Chariots and all the Baggage, prefently
difappear'd. After fome time, great Search
was made by the Perfians for thefe Men : But
Alexander eluded their Inquiry, by giving a
confiderable Sumof Money, and his Sifter Gygea
to Bubares a Perfian, one of thofe who were
fent to enquire after the Generals he had kill'd:
And by his Management the manner of their
Death was conceal'd. This Family is of Gre-
cian Extradion, and defcended from Perdiccas\
as not only they themfelves affirm, but as I
likewife have been inform'd, and fhall relate
hereafter. Nay, the Grecian Judges prefiding
in the Olympian Exercifes, have determin'd the
Queftion ; for when Alexander came thither
with a Defign to enter the Lifts, and the An-
tagonifts had refus'd to admit him ; alledging,
that thofe Exercifes were inftituted for Gre-
cians, and not for Barbarians ; he openly prov'd
himfelf an Argian ; and on that account being
receiv'd as a Grecian, he ran the Length of
a Stade ^ and was the fecond at the end of the
Race. In this Manner were thefe things tranf-
aded.
MEGAETZUS with the P^onian Captives,
being advanc'd to the //f///?/^o;2/, imbark'd; and
paffing over into Afia^ arriv'd at Sardis, In the
mean
12 HERODOTUS.
mean time HiftUus the Milefian was employM
in building a City on the River Slrymon in the
Territory of MyninuSy which Darius had given
him upon his Requeft, for the Reward of his
Care in preferving the Bridge. But Megahyzus^
having heard of his Enterprize, no fooner
arriv'd in Sardis^ than he fpoke to Darius in
thefe Terms. " O King, faid he, what have
*' you done, in permitting a bold and fubtile
*^ Grecian to found a City in Thrace ? A Coun-
*' try abounding in Timber for the building
*< of Ships ; in Numbers of Men fit for the
*' Oar j and in Mines of Silver ; furrounded
*' by Multitudes both of Grecians and Bir-
*« barians ; who, if they once find a Leader,
«« will do as he (hall diredl, in all things and
*' at all Times. Put a ftop therefore to the
*' Proceedings of this Man, that you may not
-*' be imbarrafs'd with an intelline War. To
" that End, fend for him by a gentle Mefiage-,
*' and when he is in your Power, take care
«« he may never return to Greece" By thefe
Words of MegabyzuSy Darius was eafily per-
fuaded that he had a clear Forefight of things ;
and fending for a Meflenger, difpatch'd him to
Myrcinus with this Meflage. " HiJiicBUSy
^' King Darius fays thus. In all the Compafs
of my Thoughts, I have never found a Man
more afi^ectionate to my Perfon and the Good
of my Affairs, than thy felf; of which Truth
I have had ample Experience, not by Words,
but Actions: And on that account having
great Defigns to put in execution, I re-
quire thee to come to me with all Speed, that
1 may confulc with thee concerning them.'*
Hifilisus
BookV. TERPSICHORE. 13
HifticBUS giving Credit to thefe Words, and
highly valuing the Honour of being aCoun-
fellor to the King, went to Sardis : Where,
upon his Arrival, Darius hid to him ; ^'HiJli^uSy
'' I have fent for thee on this Occafion. Ever
« fince my Return from Scytbia, and thy De-
«' parture from my Sight, I have had no greater
« Defire, than to fee and converfe with thee
" again ; perfuaded that a wife and affedionate
*« Friend is the molt valuable of all PoiTefTions:
«« and that both thefe Qualifications concur
<« in thy Perfon, my own Affairs have given
«' me fufficient Proof. Now, becaufe thy Ar-
«' rival is fo acceptable to me, I will make thee
*' an Offer. Think no more of Miletus^ nor
*« of the City thou art building in Thrace ;
« but follow me to Sufa^ and take Part of all I
" pofTefs. Be my Companion and Counfellor."
After this, Darius departed for Sufa^ accom-
panied by HiJiicBUS •, having firft appointed yfr-
tapherneSy his Brother by the Father, to be Go-
vernor of Sardis. The Command of the mari-
time Parts he left to Otanes^ whofe Father Sifam-
nes had been one of the Royal Judges ; and
was put to death by Camhyfes for receiving a
Sum of Money to pronounce an unjuft Sen-
tence. By the King's Order his Body was
fleadi and his whole Skin being cut into Thongs,
was extended on the Bench where he us'd to
fit. And when this was done, Cambyfes plac'd
the Son of Syfamnes in the Office of his Father,
admonifhing him to remember on what Tri-
bunal he fat to adminifter Juftice. This Ota-
nes, who had performed the Office of a Judge
on that Seat, now fucceeding Megahyzus in the
Command of the Army, fubdued the Byzan-
tians
14 HERODOTUS.
tians, and Chalcedonians *, with the Cities of
jlntandrus and Latnponium in Iroas, He alfo
poflefs'd himfelf of Lemnos and Imhrus, by the
Afliftance of the Lesbian Fleet ; both which
Places where then inhabited by the Pelafgians.
But the Lemnians having fought valiantly, and
defended thcmfelves to Extremity ; fufFer'd
much ; and thofe who furviv'd, were compell'd
by the Perfians to obey Lycaretus, the Brother of
Meandrius King of Santos. This Lycaretus en-
fiav'd the People, and exercis'd all manner of
Violence ; charging fome, that they had de-
ferted the Army of Darius in the Scythian Ex-
pedition •, and others, that they had harafs'd
his Forces in their Return. Yet he efcap'd not
long with Impunity, and was kill'd for thefe
Actions in Lemnos.
BUT farther Calamities impending over the
lonians, began in Naxus and Milelus. The
firft of thefe was at that time the mod flourifh-
ing of all the Iflands : And Miletus was then
in a State of greater Profperity than ever, and
accounted the Ornament of Ionia ; tho' that
City had before been afflicted with domeftick
Diforders during two Generations, till their
Differences were compos'd by the Parians ;
who, among all the Grecians, had been chofen
by the Milefians to that Purpofe, and amended
the Government in this manner. Some of
their mofl: eminent Men arriving in Miletus^
and feeing nothing but Defolation, told the
Milefians, they had refolv'd to furvey theif
whole Country. Which as they were doing,
wherefoever they faw in that depopulated Re-
gion any Portion of Land well cultivated,
ihey wrote down the Name of the PoflefTor.
After
BookV. TERPSICHORE. t;
After they had view'd all the Milefian Territo-
ries, and found very few fuch PofTeffions ; return-
ing to the City, they called an AfTembly, and
declar'd that the Government fhould be put in-
to the Hands of thofe Perfons, whofe Lands
they had found in good Condition : Not doubt-
ing that they would adminifter the publick Af-
fairs, with the fame Care they had taken of
their own. They llridly enjoin'd all the reft
of the Milefians, who before had been fplit in-
to Factions, to obey thefe Magiftrates ; and in
this manner reform'd the State of Miletus.
From thefe two Places the enfuing Evils were
deriv'd upon the lonians. For fome rich Men
of Naxus being banifh'd by the People, fled to
Miletus ', the Adminiftration of which Place
was then in the Hands of Ariftagoras the Son
of Molparcgas, Nephew and Son in Law to
Hifticsus iht Son o[ LyfagoraSy who was decain'd
by Darius at Sufa, For HiJiicBus was Tyrant of
Miletus •, and during his Detention in Jfta^ the
Naxians arriv'd ; and in Confidence of the
Engagements they and Hijli-
pias^ the Athenians during the Space of four
Years were no lefs opprefs'd by Tyranny than
before, Hipparchus had feen his own Deftruc-
lion manifeftly foretold in a Dream. For in
the Night preceding the Panathenian Fefti-
valj a tall and handfome Man feem'd to fland
by him , and pronounce thefc enigmatical
Words,
L'jon^ with Courage hear the great eft lily
For Vengeance always re-aches the Unjuft,
At Break of Day he acquainted the Diviners
with his Dream ; but afterwards, flighting the
Event, he celebrated that Solemnity, in which
he perifli'd. The Gephyrasans, from whom
thofe who kill'd Hipparchus were defcended,
derive their Original from the Eretrians, as
they themfelves fay : But I am more certainly
informed, that they are the Pofterity of thofe
Phoenicians, who arriving in Bceotia with Cad-
mus^ were appointed by Lot to inhabit the Di-
{^r\6}:o(Tanagra. The Cadmeans were firftex-
peird by the Argians; and thefe Gephyrseans
being afterwards ejefled by the Boeotians, be-
took themfelves to the Athenians-, who admit-
ted them into the Number of their Citizens, un-
der certain Conditions and Limitations, which
are not neceflary to be mention*d. Thefe Phoeni-
cians who came with Cadmus, and the Gephy-
rssans
32 HERODOTUS.
rasans their Defcendants, inhabiting this Regi-
on, introduc'd many Kinds of Difcipline into
Greece-^ and particularly Letters, which, as I
conceive, were not known among the Greci-
ans before that Time. The firft Letters they
us'd were entirely Phoenician ; but in fucceed-
ing Ages they were gradually alter'd both in
Sound and Figure ; and the lonians who in-
habited the greateft Part of the Country round
about, having learnt thefe Letters from the
Phoenicians, made ufe of them with fome fmall
Alteration, and gave out that they ought to go
under the Name of Phoenician Letters; as Rea-
fon requir'd, becaufe they had been introduc'd
by the Phoenicians. Befides, the lonianF^
from antient Time, have given the Name of
Paper to the Skins of Goats and Sheep, which
they then us'd inifead of Paper ; as many of
the Barbarians do to this Day. And I my felf
have feen in the Temple of Ifmenian Jpollo at
Thebes in Bceotia, fome Cad mean Letters en-
grav'd on certain Tripos's little different from
the Ionian Charader. One of thefe Infcriptions
runs thus;
Amphy trion of Telebois placed me here.
This was about the Time o^ Laius the Son of
Labdacus \ whofe Father Polydorus was Son to
.Cadmus. Anocher Tripos has thefe words in
He^xameter Veifes,
To the Apollo by the conquering Hand
Cy Scaeus offer* d^ a rich Gift I ftand.
Sc^us was tl^ Son of Hifpoccon^ if he were in-
deed
BookV. TERPSICHORE. 33
deed the Donor of this Tripos ; and not a-
nother Ferfon of the fame Name, who liv'd a-
bout the Time of Oedipus the Son of Laius. A
third Tripos is infcrib'd thus, in Hexameters
like wife,
To thte^ hri^jt Phoebus, ever-Jhining Lights
To thet^ Laodamas this Offering made.
During the Reign of this Monarch Laodarnas^
the Cadmeans were expell'd by the Argians ;
and retir'd to Enchelea. After which the Ge-
phyrasans being ejeded by the Boeotians, be-
took themfclves to Athens \ where they erected
their own peculiar Temples, diftindl from the
reft of the Athenians, and particularly one to
the Achaian Ceres^ in which they perform'd the
Orgian Rites. And thus having related the
Dream of Hip-par chus^ with the Original of
the Gephyrseans, from whom thofe who kill'd
him were defcended, I (hall now refume the
Difcourfe 1 began, and fliew in what manner
the Athenians were delivered from Tyrants.
UNDER the Tyranny of Hippias, who
was highly incens'd againft the Athenians
for the Death of Hipparchus^ the Alcmaeoni-
des, being of Athenian Extraction, and ac
that time banifh'd by the Pififtratides, made
great Efforts, in conjundlion with other Ex-
iles, to obtain their Return : And tho' their
Endeavours had been unfuccefsful ; yet ftill
continuing to apply themfelves with Dili-
gence to procure their own Re-eftabli(hmenr,
with the Liberty of Athens^ they fortified
Lipfydrum in Pceonia : And that they mighc
leave nothing unattempted againft the PU
Vol. IL C fiftracides.
34 HERODOTUS.
fiftratldes, undertook by a Contra(fl made
with the Amphidyons, to build the Temple
which now is feen at Delphi. Thefe Perfons
being defcended of illuftrious Anceftors, and
very rich, eredi-ed a Fabrick, much more mag-
nificent than the Model •, and among other
things, faced the Frontifpiece of the Temple
with Marble of Paros, inftead of Stone, which by
their Contrail they were to bring from Parium.
The Athenians fay, that while the Alcmaso-
nides were at Delphi, they prevail'd with the
Pythian by a Sum of Money, to exhort all the
Spartans, who fhould come thither to confult
the Oracle, either on their own account, or
that of the Publick, to deliver Athens from Ser-
vitude; And that the Lacedemonians finding
this Admonition incefTantly inculcated, fenc
Anchimolius xht Son of After, an eminent Citi-
zen, with an Army to Athens, in order to expel
the Pififtratides, tho' they were the chief of their
Allies : So much they preferr'd the Commands
of the God to all human Obligations. Ac-
cordingly Anchimolius imbark'd ; and arriving
at Phaleron, landed with his Army. But the
Pififtratides, who had timely Notice of this
Expedition, demanded Succour of the Thef-
falians, their Confederates ; which they grant-
ed, and unanimoufly refolv'd to fend a Thou-
fand Horfe to their Affiftance, under the
Condudl of their King Cineas of Conicea. Ha-
ving receiv'd this Reinforcement, the Pififtra-
tides clear'd the Plains of the Phalereans, and
render'd the Country practicable for Horfe :
which when they had done, they order'd the E-
nemy to be attacked by the Theflalian Cavalry ;
who falling upon the Lacedemonians in their
Camp>
BookV. TERPSICHORE. 35
Camp, kill'd great Numbers of them, with their
General Anchifnolius^ and forc'd the reft to be-
take themielves to their Ships. Thus the firft
Lacedemonian Army was compell'd to retire ;
and Anchimolius was buried at Alopece in Attica^
near the Temple of Hercules in Cynofarges.
But the Lacedemonians fent afterwards a grea-
ter Army to Athens^ by Land, and not by
Sea, under the Condu6l of their King Cleome-
nes the Son of Anaxandrides : Who, when he
had enter'd the Territories of Attica^ was
attack'd by the Theflalian Cavalry •, which
after a (hort Difpute he put to flight, with
the Lofs of about forty Men. Upon this
Defeat the Theflalians by a precipitate March
return'd to their own Country -, and Cleomenes^
accompanied by thofe Athenians who were de-
firous to recover their Liberty, march'd di-
rectly to the City, and befieg'd the Tyrants
in the Pelafgian Fort, to which they had been
oblig'd to retire. Yet the Lacedemonians
could not by any means havereduc'd the Enemy ;
both becaufe they themfelves were not pre-
par'd to carry on a long Siege, and the Pifif-
tratides had furnifh'd the Place with all kind
of Provifions ; but muft have been necefTitated
in a few Days to march away to Sparta^ if
an Accident had not happen'd, which was
no lefs pernicious to fome, than advantageous
to others. For the Sons of the Pififtratides
fell into the Hands of the Lacedemonians,
as fome Perfons were endeavouring to con-
vey them privately out of the Country ;
which broke all their Meafures in fuch a man-
ner, that, to redeem their Children, they
yielded to whatever the Athenians would pre-
C 2 fcribe.
36 HERODOTUS.
fcribe, and oblig'd themfclves to depart out of
j^ttica in five Days. Bat foon after, they aban-
doned the Country, and retir'd to Sigeum upon
the River Scamjjiander^ having poiTefs'd the Do-
minion of AtJoens fix and thirty Years. They
came originally from Pilus and Nelea *, and were
of the fime Extradlion with Codrus and Melan-
thus^ who, tho' Foreigners, had been formerly
Kings of Athens. And for this Reafon Hippo-
crates^ the Father of Piftftratus gave that Name
to his Son, in Memory oi Fifijlratus the Son of
Nejlor, Thus the Athenians were deliver'd
frorti their Tyrants : And what memorable
things they either did or fuffer'd, before the
lonians revoked from Darius^ and Ariftagoras
of Miletus came to defire their AfTiilance, I
Ihall now relate.
THE Power of Athens was great before ;
but after the Expulfion of their Tyrants, became
much greater. Two Men of that City fur-
pafs'd aJ] the reft in Authority. One of thefe
was Cliflhenes who was of the Alcmseonian
Blood, and the Perfon, if we may believe com-
mon Fame, who prevail'd with the Pythian to
do as I have mention'd. The other was Ifago-
ras the Son of Tifander^ of an ilJuftrious Fami-
ly 'y but from what Original defcended, I am
not able to difcover : Only this I know, that
the whole Race offers Sacrifices to Jupiter of
Caria. In their Contefts for Superiority, Clif-
thenes finding his Competitor too powerful, flu-
died to become popular, and form'd the Athe-
nians into ten Tribes ; which to that time had
been no more than four ; changing the Names
they had from Geleon^ AEgicores^ Argadeus and
Opletusy Sons of Ion y into other Appellations de-
riv'd
Book V. TERPSICHORE. 37
riv'd from Heroes who were all Natives of the
Country, except Ajax only, whofe Name he
admitted as a near Neighbour and Ally. This
he did, as I conje6lure, in Imitation of Clif-
thenes^ Tyrant oi^ Suyon, his Grandfather by the
Mother j who, when he made War aic^ainft the
Argians, filenc'd all the Reciters of Vcrfes, be-
caufe the People and Country of j^rgos are fo
much celebrated in thofe of Homer ; and having
form'd a Defign to defrroy the Monument of
Adraftus the Son of Talaus, which (lands in the
Forum of Sicyon, becaufe he was an Argian,
went to confult the Oracle of Delphi^ and
receiv'd this Anfwer from the Pythian, " Than
*' Adrajlus indeed had been King of the Si-
*' cyonians ; whereas he deferv'd to be fton'd."
Clijlhenes finding the God would not yield to his
Defires, return'd home, and bent his Thoughts
to contrive, how Jldrafiiis mio-ht of himfelf
become infignificant. When he thought he
had found the right way, he fent to the
Thebans of Bceotia, to acquaint them, thac
he would bring back the Body of Melanip-
^us the Son of Aftacus •, which having done
with their PermifTion, he erecled a Temple
to him in the ftrongefl Part of the Frytaneum,
This he did, for I muft not omit the true
Motive, becaufe Melanippus had been the great-
eft of all the Enemies of Adraftus ; having
kiird his Brother Mecifies^ and his Son-in-Law
^ydeus. After Clifthenes had ereded this Tem-
ple he abolifli'd the Sacrifices and Feftivals of
adraftus •, and inftituted the fame Rites to Me-
lanippus as the Sicyonians had been accuftom'd
p perform in a magnificent manner to the
C 3 othe
r
9
38
HERODOTUS.
other. For Polybus ^who was Mafter of Sicyofi^
leaving no Male Line, gave that Country to
Adraftus the Son of his Daughter. The Sicy-
onians, among other Honours paid to him, us'd
to celebrate his Misfortunes with tragical
Dances ; honouring Adraftus^ and not Bacchus,,
to that Time. But Clifthenes transferr'd thefe
Dances to the Worfhip of Bacchus^ and all the
other Ceremonies to Melanippus. In a Word,
he impos'd new Names upon the Dorian
Tribes of Sicyon^ that they might bear no Re-
femblance to thofe of Argos *, and by this means
made the Sicyonians ridiculous. For he deno-
minated the other Tribes from Words fignify-
ing Swine and AfTes, with the Addition of a
terniinating Syllable : But dillinguifh'd his
own by a Name deriv'd from his Dominion.
So that thefe were calJ'd Archelaians, while
the reft went under the Names of Swine-herds,
Afs-keepers, and Hogs-herds. The Sicyonian
Tribes were call'd bv thefe Names in the
Time of Clijibenes, and after his Death, du-
ring the Space of fixty Year ; when, by com-
mon Confent they were chang'd into thofe
of Hylleans, Pamphylians, and Dymanates ;
and a Fourth Tribe was added, to which
they gave the Name of -^gyalean from Mgya-
lus the Son of Adraftus, |Thefe things were
done by Clifthenes ot Sky on : And the Athe-
nian Clifthenes^ who was Son to the Daughter
of the Sicyonian, and had his Name from him,
feems to me to have imitated him, from a
Contempt of the lonians ; and that they might
not go under the fame Denomination with
the Tribes of Athens. For when he had pre-
vail'd with all the Populace to unite and fide
with
Book V. TERPSICHORE. 39
with him, he chang'd the Names of the Tribes,
and augmented their Number, from Four to
Ten ; appointing a Prefident to every one :
And thus having gain'd the People, he became
much fuperior to his Adverfaries. Ifagoras find-
ing his Party broken, form'd a Refolution
to apply himfelf for Succour to Cleomenes the
Lacedemonian ; who from the Time he had
befieg'd the Pififlratides, was engag'd with
him in aFriendfhip of mutual Hofpitality ; and
befides was fufpeded to have made Love to
his Wife. In the firft Place therefore, Cleo-
menes fent a Herald to Athens^ and obtain'd
the Expulfion of Clifthenes^ with many other A-
thenians ; under colour, that they were guilty
of an execrable Adlion. This Crime was laid
to their charge by the Advice of Ifagoras,
For the Alcmaeonides, and thofe of their Party,
had been the Authors of a Slaughter, in which
Ifagoras and his Friends were no way con-
cern'd. The Adlion pafs'd in this manner.
Cylon an Athenian, having been vi(5lorious in
the Olympian Exercifes, attempted to make
himfelf Tyrant ; and to that end, forming a
Society of Young Men about his own Age,
endeavour'd to feize the Acropolis : Which not
being able to effedt, he fled with his Compa-
nions to the Image of theGoddefs. From that
Place they were taken by the Naucrarian Ma-
giftracy, who had then the Power in Athens^ un-
der a Promife, that their Lives fhould be fpar'd.
But the Alcmaeonides put them all to death.
Thefe things were done before the Time
of Pififtratus, Neverthelefs Cleomenes^ tho* he
had by his Herald ejedled CUfthenes and his Ac-
complices, came to Athens with a fmall Force,
C 4. and
40 HERODOrUS.
and upon his Arrival expelPd ft^ven Hundred
Athenian Families at the InRigation of Ifagoras,
When he had done this, he actempted to dif-
folve the Council, and to put the Power into
the Hands of three hundred Fartizans of Ifa-
goras. But finding the Council refolv'd to op-
pofe his Defign, and not to obey •, he and Ifa-
goras^ with thofe of his Fa6lion, feiz'd the
Caftle: Where they were befieg'd during two
Days by the reft of the Athenians, whoadher'd
to the Council. On the third Day they fur-
render'd, on condition, that all the Lacedemoni-
ans in the Place might depart out of the Coun-
try. And thus an Admonition v^\\\z\iCleomenes
had receiv'd, was ratified by the Event: For
as he came to take PofiefTion of the Acropolis^
and v^as about to enter the Sanduary of che
GoJders, like one who had fome Demand to
make, the Prieftefs rifing from her Seat be-
fore he could open the Door, '' Lacedemo-
*' nian Stranger, faid fhe, return -, and come
" not into this facrcd Place ; for no Dorian
*' is permitted to be here." '' Woman, replied
'« Cleomenes^ lam not a Dorian, but an Achai-
*' an :" And flighting her Admonition, feiz'd
the Fortrefs : Where the Lacedemonians were
again unfuccefsful. The reft were taken by the
Athenians and put to death. Among thefe
was Timfithem^ Brother to Cleemenes^ of whofe
Strength and Enterprizes I could give fome
furprizing Inftances. After which the Athe-
nians not doubting that they ftiould be necefli-
tated to make War againft the Lacedemonians,
recall'd Clijlhenes with the feven Hundred Fa-
milies that had been banidied by Cleomenes ;
and fent an Ambaffy to Sardis^ in order to con-
traft
BookV. TERPSICHORE, 41
tradl a Confederacy with the Perfians. When
thefe Ambafladors were arriv'd, and had fpo-
ken according to their Inftrudlions, Artapher-
Kes the Son of HjftafpeSy and Governour of
Sdrdis^ ask'd who the Athenians were, and
what Part of the World they inhabited, than
they fhould defire to make an Alliance with the
Perfians. And after he had inform'd himfelf
of thefe Particulars, he plainly told the Am-
bafladors, that if they would acknowledge the
King by prefenting him with Earth and Water,
he was ready to be their Confederate ; if not,
he commanded them to depart. Upon this
Propofal the Ambafladors confulced together;
and being very defirous to conclude the Alli-
ance, made anfwer. That they would comply :
For which they were highly blam'd at their Re-
turn. In the mean time Cleomenes hearing that
the Athenians infulted him both in their Words
and Actions, aflembled an Army from all
Parts^of Peloponnefus, without difcovering the
Defign he had to revenge himfelf upon the
People of Athens^ and to put the Power into
the Hands of Ifagoras^ who went with him
out of the Fortrefs. Thus having colledled
great Forces, he march'd into the Territories
of Eleufis ; while the Boeotians, as had been
concerted, poflefs'd themfelves of Oinoe and
Hyfia on the Borders of Attica 5 and the Chal-
cideans ravag'd other Parts of the Country.
The Athenians, tho' they were doubtful at
firil to which fide they fhould turn their Arms,
refolv'd for the prefent to forbear the Boeo-
tians and Chalcideans ; and to bend all their
Strength againft the Peloponnefians, who had
invaded Ekufis, When the two Armis were
ready
42 HERODOTUS.
ready to engage, the Corinthians, who had
confuked together, being convinc'd their Caufe
was unjuft, drew off their Forces and march'd
av/ay •, Demaratus^ the other Spartan King, and
Son of Arifton^ following their Example. He
commanded the Lacedemonians in conjundli-
on with Cleomenes^ and never before had any
Difference with him. But on occalion of this
Dilunion a Law was made in Sparta^ that the
two Kings fhould not for the future march out
together at the Head of their Armies, as they
had done to that Time ; and that one of the
Tyndarides fhould remain with the King,
who ftaid at home: For both thefe alfo had
been formerly accuflom'd to accompany the
Army,, as Infpedors. When the reft of the
Confederates perceiv'd that the Lacedemonian
Kings could not agree, and that the Corinthi-
ans had quitted their Poft, they drew off their
Forces likewife. And this was the Fourth Ex-
pedition the Dorians made into Au'ica, Twice
they enter'd, in order to make War ; and
twice for the good of the Athenian People.
In their firfl Expedition they fettled a Colony
in Megara^ during the Reign of Codrus King
of Athens: They arriv'd a fecond and third
time from Sparta^ with a defign to expel the
Pififtratides ; and a fourth time, when Cleome^
nes at the Head of the Peloponnefians invaded
the Country of Eleufis, And thus the Dorian
Armies had enter'd the Athenian Territories
four feveral times.
AFTER the inglorious Difllpation of this
Army, theAthenians defirous to right themfelves
for the Injuries they had receiv'd, march'd in
the firft Place againft the Chalcideans 5 and find-
ing
BookV. TERPSICHORE. 43
ing the Boeotians arriv'd to their Succour at the
EuripuSy refolv'd to attack them firfl. Ac-
cordingly falling upon the Enemy, the Athe-
nians obtain'd a compleat Vidtory -, kill'd great
Numbers of the Boeotians, and took fcvea
Hundred Prifoners. Then landing the fame
Day in Euhcsa^ they defeated the Chalcideans ;
and left a Colony of four Thoufand Men in
PofTefTion of the Lands belonging to the moft
Wealthy of the Inhabitants, who are call'd by
the Name of the Hippobates. All the Pri-
foners taken in this Battle, were, together
with the Boeotians, put into Irons, and kept
under a Guard ; but afterwards v/ere fet at
liberty by the Athenians in confideration of
a Ranfom of two Mines paid for each Man,
Neverthelefs the Athenians prefer v'd the Fet-
ters in the Acropolis : Where they remain'd to
my Time, hanging on a Wall ; which facing the
Apartment that opens to the Weftward, was
damag'd by Fire in the Median War. The
Tenth Part of this Ranfom they confecra-
ted ; and having made a Chariot with Four
Horfes in Front, all of Brafs, they plac'd it in
the Portico of the Acropolis^ on the Left-fide
of the Entrance, bearing this Infcription,
When the vi^orious Touth of Athens made
The proud Boeotian and Chalcidean how
Beneath the Chain^ they to Nlintvvd. placed
This Monument, the Tenth of all the Spoil,
Thus the Affairs of the Athenians flourifh*d.
Yet they are not the only Example of this
Kind. For all Places abound in Inftances of
the Profperity that attends an equal Diftribution
^ of
44 H E R 0 D 0 r US.
of Power. Under their Tyrants indeed they
were not inferior in War to any of their Neigh-
bours : But they had no fooner freed them-
felves from that Servitude, than they far fur-
pafs'd all the reft, and became the principal
Nation of Greece: Which manifeitly fhews,
that as long as they were opp^efs'd, they aded
remifsly, and would not exert their Courage
to the utmoft ; becaufe they knew their Vidlo-
ries could only redound to the Advantage of
their Mafters *, whereas after they had reco-
vered their Liberty, every Man contended who
fhould do bed, becaufe they fought for them-
feJves. And fuch was the State of the Athe-
nian Affairs.
AFTER this, the Thebans meditating Re-
venge againfl the Athenians, fent to confult the
Oracle ; and the Anfvver of the Pythian was,
that they muft not expedl the Satisfadion they
defn'd, from their own Power-, but fhould go
to Polyphefnus^ and ask the AfTiftancc of their
reared Neighbours. With this Anfwer the
Meflengers returned, and when they had report-
ed the Words of the Oracle in a general AfTem-
bly, the Thebans faid, " Have we not the Ta-
" nagrasans, Coronseans and Thefpians forour
'' nearefl Neighbours? Are not thefe our Com-
*•"' panions in Fight, and always ready to take
«' part with us in every War ? What need have
•« wc then to ask their Affiftjnce ? But per-
*' haps thefe Words may contain fome other
*' Senfe." As they were difcourfing in this
manner, one of the Afl'embly faid, he thought
he underitood the Meaning of the Oracle.
*^ For, faid he, according to common Fame,
** Jfopus had two Daughters, Tbcbe and jEgina.
I " Now
BookV. TERPSICHORE. 45
*' Now becaufc thefe were Sifters, I prefume
*' the God admonifhes us to defire the JEgi-
'« netes to be our Avengers." The Thebans
approving this Opinion more than any other,
fent to the People of jEgina, as their neareft
Friends, to defire Succour according to the
Admonition of the Oracle: And upon their
Requeft, the ^ginetes promis'd to fend the
^acides to their Aflillance. In conjundlion
with thefe, the Thebans attack'd the Athenians;
but being rcpuls'd with great Lofs, they fent
back the iEacides, and defir'd a farther Supply
of Men. Upon which the People o( ^gina,
elated with their prefent Felicity, and remem-
bring the antienc Differences they had with
the Athenians, invaded the Territories of
Athens 2ii the Defire of the Boeotians, without
any preceding Denuntiation of War. For
while the Athenian Forces were employ'd a-
gainft the Boeotians, they made a Defcent into
Attica^ and ravag'd the Country of f baler oriy
with many other Places on the Coaft, to the
great Damage of the Athenians. This Enmi-
ty of the iEginetes againit the Athenians be-
gan thus. The Epidaurians feeing their Coun-
try become unfruitful, fent to confult the Oracle
of 'Del;^hi concerning the Caufe of that Cala-
mity : The Pythian anfwer'd. That if they
would eredl the Statues of Damias and Auxefias^
their Afi'airs fiiould go better. Then the Epi-
daurians farther demanded, whether thofe
Images fhould be made of Stone or of Brafs:
and the Pythian replied of neither; but of the
Wood of a cultivated Olive. Having receiv'd
this Anfwer, the Epidaurians defired Leave
of the Athenians to cut down an Olive-Tree,
perfuaded
46 HERODOTUS.
perfuaded that thofe of that Soil were the
moft facred : And fome fay no Olive Trees
grew at that Time in any other Country than
that of Athens. The Athenians toJd them they
were ready to grant their Requeft provided
they would come annually to the City, and
offer Sacrifice to Minerva and Ere5lheU5, This
Condition the Epidaurians accepting obtain'd
their Defires ; and after they had eredled the
Statues they form'd out of that Wood, their
Country became fruitful again, and they per-
form'd the Promife they had made to the Athe-
nians. In thofe and the preceding Times, the
JEginetes were dependent upon the Epidaurians
in all things ; and particularly in matters re-
lating to the Diflribution of juflice, when-
foever. they were either Appellants or Defen-
dants. But afterwards applying themfelves to
the building of Ships, they ungratefully revolt-
ed from the Epidaurians ; and being fuperior
at Sea, among many other Hoftilitiesi^xercis'd
againft them, took away the Statues of Damias
and Auxefias ; which they carried off, and
ere6led at Oia in the midland Part of their
own Country, about twenty Stades from their
City. When they had done this, to render
them propitious, they appointed Sacrifices,
accompanied witii Dances perform'd by Wo-
men in a ludicrous Manner ; alllgning to each
Image ten Men to prefide in the Solemnity.
On this Occafion thefe Dancers were permit-
ted to abufe all the Women of that Coun-
try with opprobrious Language, but not the
Men : Which they did, in Conformity to the
former Pradlice of the Epidaurians ; who be-
fides thefe, had other Religious Ceremonies not
I fit
BookV. TERPSICHORE. 47
fit to be mention'd. When thefe Statues were
taken away, the Epidaurians ceas'd to per-
form their Contrad: with the Athenians ; and
being reminded of their Default, openly in-
filled that they were under no farther Obliga-
tion. For, faid they, fo long as we had thofc
Images in our Country, fo long we complied
with our Agreement: But to demand tiie fame
Acknowledgment from us fince the time they
have been taken away, isunjufl: The -^gi-
netes who are now in PofTeflion, ought to do,
as we did before. Upon this the Athenians
difpatch'd a MelTenger to ^Egina with Order
to demand the Statues ; but the jEginetes made
anfwer, that they had no Bufinefs with them.
The Athenians fay, that after this Refufal
they fent a Ship with fome of their Citizens
to jEgina by a publick Decree-, who upon their
Arrival attempted to take off the Statues from
the Bafes, and to bring them away, becaufe
they had been made of Athenian Timber :
But finding themfelves unable to fucceed that
way, they threw Cords about the Images
and as they endeavoured to pull them down
they were fo terrified with Thunder and an
Earthquake, that they became outragioufly
mad, and kill'd one another like Enemies;
till no more than one remained alive, who
efcap'd to Phaleron, In this manner the Athe-
nians relate the Story. But the iEginetes
fay they arriv'd with a great Fleet, and not
with a lingle Ship, as is pretended : For they
could eafily have refifted fuch a Number as
might come in one or a few Ships, tho' they
themfelves had not been furnifh'd with any.
Neverthelefs they give no certain Account,
whether
48 HERODOTUS.
whether they left the Athenians to do as they
thought fit, out of a Diftruft of their own
Naval Strength, or defignedly perform'd the
Part they aded : But only fay, that the Athe-
nians meeting v/ith noOppofuion, landed their
Men, and march'd diredly to the Statues :
That after they had in vain endeavour'd to
move them from their Pedeftals, they made ufe
of Cords to draw them down ; and that the
Images upon their Defcent perform'd an Adion,
which I cannot believe, tho' perhaps feme o-
thers may. For, faid they, both thefe Statues
fell down on their Knees, and have ever fince
continued in thatPofture. Thefe things are rc^
lated of the Athenians by the People oY^gina t
And concerning themfelves they fay, that be-
ing informed the Athenians would not fail to
make War againft them, they prevail'd with
the Argians to put themfelves into a Readi-
nefs to come to their Afliftance. And ac-
cordingly, when the Athenians were landed
in jEgina, the Argians enter'd the Ifland pri-
vately, from Epidaurus^ and unexpededly fal^
ling upon the Athenians, cut off their Re-
treat to the Ships : In which Inftant the
Thunder and Earthquake happened. Thus
the Argians and ^ginetes relate the Story ;
and the Athenians themfelves confefs, that
no more than one Man efcap'd out of this
A6lion to Attica. But whereas the Argians
affirm, that they deftroy'd the Army of Attic a^
one Man only excepted -, the Athenians on the
contrary fay, feme Demon interpos'd ; and
the furviving Perfon foon perifh'd in this
manner : When he returned to Athens^ and
had given an account of this Difafter, the
Wives
BookV. TERPSICHORE. 4^
Wives of thofe who had made the Dr^ cent up-
on yEgina^ highly incens'd that one Man alone
fhouKi be left alive of the whole Number, af-
fembled together about him, and asking for
their Husbands, kill'd him with the Fonts of
the Pins which faften'd their Garments. They
add, that the Atnenians were more didiirb'd
atthisAdion, than at their Defeat 5 and having
no other way topunifh the Women, compell'd
them to alter their Drefs, and wear the Ioni-
an Habit. For before that time, the Wives of
the Athenians were cloath'd in the Dorian
Fafhion, little differing from that o^ Corinth 2
But afterwards they were oblig'd to wear a
linen Veil, that needed not to be faften'd with
Pins. Yet if we will fpeak the Truth, this Gar-
ment was originally of Caria, and not of Ionia :
And indeed the ancient Habit of all the Women
of Greece was the fame with that which we now
call Dorian. However, from this Event a Cuf-
torn was introduc*d among the Argians and -^gi-
netes, of making Pins greater by three fourth
Parts than before; and of thefe confifled the
principal Offerings that were dedicated in the
Temples of the Gods by the Women of Mgina:
who might not carry to thofe Places any thing
made in the Territories of Attica^ not even
a. Pitcher; but were forc'd to drink there
in Pots of their own Country. In a word, the
Women of y/r^oiand Mgina^ in defpiteto thofe
of Athens^ wear at this Day Pins of a greater
Size, than they ufed in antient time. Thus
I have related the Original of that Enmity
which the-^ginetes conceiv'd againfl the Athe-
nians *, and which mov'd them fo readily to af-
fiil the Boeotians at the Ddfire of the Thebans ;
Vol. 11. D becauf«
50 HERODOTUS.
becaufe they had not forgotten the things thaC
had pafs'd about the two Images.
WHILE the Forces of JSgina were rava»
ging the maritim Places of Jtlica. and the Athe-
nians prepar'd to march out againil them, an
Oracle was brought to Athens from Delphi^ ex-
boating them to defer the Punifliment of the
^ginetes during thirty Years •, and in the one
and thirtieth Year, to build a Temple to y^^r^j^
and then to begin the War, with full AlTurance
of Succefs : Adding farther, that if they
would not be difTuaded from undertaking that
Enterprize immediately, they fhould fuftain as
great LofTes as ther Enemies, and be overcome
in the end. When the Athenians heard the
Predidlion, they built a Temple to jEacuSy
which is now feen (landing in the publick Place •,
yet would not defer the War for thirty Years
upon the Admonition of the Oracle, becaufe
they had already fuffered by the Hoftilities^
of the iEginetes. But as they were preparing
to take their Revenge, the Lacedemonians ob-
ftrudVcd their Defign. For being informed of
the Fraud contriv'd between the Alcmseoni-
des and the Pythian, together with all that
flie had done againft the Pififtratides, they
perceiv'd they had injur'd themfelves doubly *,;
having expell'd their own Friends and Allies
out of Athens^ and receiving no Thanks from
the Athenians for that Kindnefs. Befides,
they were mide acquainted with certain Ora-
cles, threatning them with Indignities from
the Athenians •, of which they knew nothing
till the Return of Cleomeftes ; who finding
them in the Acropolis, after they had been in
the PofTeiTion of the Pififtratides, and left in
that
BookV. rERPSICHORE 51
that Place ai thrir Expulfion, brought them a-
way with him to Sparta. The L icedemonians
therefore having receiv'd this Informations, and
confidering the profperous Condition of the
Athenians; with their manifcft Unwillingnefs
toacknowledge the Superiority of Sparta ; were
perfuvided that if the People of Attica fliouid
continue in Freedom, they would fcon afpire
to an Equality, and on the contrary would be
weak and humble if they were under a Tyran-
ny : Confidering thefe things, I fay, they fenC
for Hippias the Son of Piftftratus from higeumon.
the Hellefpont^ to which Place the Pifiltratides
were retir*d ; and after his Arrival, having
affembled the Deputies of the retl of their
Confederates, fome of the Spartans fpoke t(^
this effedl. " Friends and Allies, we are now
** convinc'd of the Error we committed, when
** relying upon deceitful Oracles, we not only
" expell*d from their Country, Men, who
<' were our truiiy Con f?dt.- rates, and had un-
" dertaken to put Athens into our hrnds j
*' but delivei*d the City to an ungrateful Peo-
«' pie, who, after they had been fet at liberty
*' by us, had the infolence to ejedl our King
** with Lofs and DKhonour ; and from thac
** lime have advanced both in Pride and Pow-
*' cr \ as their Neighbours the Boeotians and
Chalcideans have already experienc'd *, and
others may foon feel, if they Ojould hap^
pen to incur their Difpleafure. Since then
we have been guilty of fo great a Faulty
*' let us agree to march againft them, and en-
deavour to take Revenge. For to that End
we have fenc iov Hippias^ and fummon'd e-
very one of you •, that by common Con fen r,
D 2 *' and
cc
52
HERODOTUS.
*« and united Forces, we may reindate him in
" the PcffelTion of Athens^ and reftore what
'« we took away from him." To this effecfl
the Lacedemonians exprefb'd themfelves. But
their Confederates not approving their Propa-
fition, were filent : Only Sofides the Corin-
thian made the following Speech ; " Then,
furely, faid he, the Heavens will fink beneath
the Earth, and the Earth afcend above the
Air j Men fhall live in the Sea, and the
Fifhes poficfs the Habitations of Men, when-
foever you, O Lacedemonians, fhall difiblve a
Commonwealth, and endeavour to eredl a
Tyranny; than which nothing can be found
more unjuft, and more pernicious among
Men ! But if a Tyranny appear to you fo ex-
cellent a thing, eftablilh one firft in your
own Country ; and then with a better Grace
you may attempt to fet up Tyrants in other
Places. But would you, who are altogether
unacquainted with the Exercife of tyrannical
Power, and have carefully provided to pre-
vent any fuch in Sparta^ condemn your Allies
to that Shame ? I perfuade my felf, if you
had been taught by our Experience, you
would propofe better things to us. The
State of Corinth was formerly this : The
Government being oligarchical was admi-
niftred by thofe, who were known by the
Name of the Bacchiades, and had been ac-
cullom'd to marry only among their own
Blood. Amphion^ one of thefe, had a Daugh*
ter namM L^/?J^, who was born lame: And
becaufe none of the Bacchiades would
marry her, fhe was given to Etion the Son
of EcherateSy of the Tribe of Petra, rho*
originally
((
Book V. TERPSICHOR E. 53
*« originally of La^ithe and Cenide. Buc Etion
«' having no Chil( vcn by rhi* Woman, nor by
*' any other, went to Delphi^ on that account 5
<' and as he enter'd tht Temple, the Pythian
*« faluoed him with the following Lines:
Etion, kfs honoured than thy Merits claim^
Labd:i is pregnant, and a Stone Jhall bring ;
To crujh the Monarchs^ and Conn thus rule,
*' This Predidion was reported to the Bac-
** chiades, who had not underflood a former
** Oracle, concerning Corinth^ tending to tke
" fame End with that of Etion^ and conceiv'd
" in thefe Terms, ^
A brooding Eagle on the Rocks Jhould hatch
A L)on-tPhelp^ dejlru^ive, fierce^ andfirong*
Conftder^ Corinth, and Pirene fair.
What muft enfue from this prodigious Birth,
" The Bacchiades, who had never been able
«' to comprehend the Meaning of this Oracle,
*« no fooner heard that which was deliver'd to
" Etion^ than they prefently underflood the o-
*« ther ; and perceiving that both thefe Oracles
«' foretold the fame Event, they would not pub-
*' li(h their Sufpicions •, but refolv'd to dcftroy
*' whatever (hould be born to Etion. In this
*' Refolution, after the Woman was brought to
<' bed, they fent ten of their own Number, in-
" to the Diftricl where Etion liv'd, with Or-
*' ders to difpatch the Child : And when thofe
" Men arriv'd in Petra, they went to the Houfc
«' of Etion^ and defir'd to fee the Infant : Labda
D 3 " not
54 HERODOTUS.
*' not at all fufpeding the Caufe of their com-
^' ing, and imagining they ask'd that Queftion
;«' out of Fricndfliip to the Father, brought
*' the Child and put him into the Hands of
*' one of the Ten •, who had made an Agree-
*' ment by the way, that whoever (hould
*' firft receive the Infant, (hould let him fall
*' upon the Floor. Bat the Child happening
*' by ftrange Fortune to fmile upon thePerfon,
*' into whofe Hands the Mother had delivered
«' him, mov'd hisCompalTion to fuch a degree,
f' that he could not prevail with himfelf to
*' perform his Promife. So the firft relenting
^' gave him to another, and he to a third ;
«' till the Infant had pafs'd thro' the Hands of
*' all the Ten : And when none of the Com-
^' pany would kill him, they deliver'd him a-
" gain to his Mother, and went out of the
<^' Houfc. But ftanding ftill before the Door,
*' they fell into a warm Debate, mutually
*' blaming each other, and efpecially the firft
<< who took the Child, for not doing as they
^' had decermin'd. At laft they all agreed
*' to go in again, and that every one fhould
«' be equally concet n'd in the Death of the
^< Infant. But, becaufe the Defolation of Co-
*^ rinth was to proceed from the Race of Etion^
^' Lahda^ who from within had overheard
*' all their Difcourfe, fearing they would re^
*' turn with a Refolution to kill the Child,
*^ hid him in a Cypfela of Corn, as the fe-
»* Gureft Place ; not doubting, if they fhould
*' come in again, they would make a moft di-
<• ligent Search. Which indeed they did: For
*' they return-d, and ftridllyexamin'd every Part
** of the Houfe: But not finding the Child,
'' they
Book V. rERPSICHORE. 55
*' they refolvd to depart, and tell thofe who
<« fent them, that they had put their Orders in
*« execution. After this, Elion brought up his
" Son, and nam'd him Cyp/elus, from the Mea-
'« fure of Corn, in which he lay conceal'd,
« when he efcap'd fo great a Danger. He had
" no fooner attained the Age of a Man, than
*' he went to confult the Oracle at Delphi, and
" in Confidence of an ambiguous Anfwer, at-
'^ tempted, and fubdued Corinth. The Words
'' were thefe ;
A happy Man is come within my Houfe ;
Cypfelus, Etion'j Son^ and Corinth's King:
He and his Sons : But then no more from him,
" When Cypfelus had ufurp'd the Dominion of
*' Corinth^ he behav'd himfelf thus. He ba-
*' nifh'd many of the Corinthians, depriv'd
«' many of their Eftates, and put a greater
" Number to death. After a Reign of thirty
*« Years, attended by conftant Profperity,
«< his Son Periander fucceeded him in the Ty-
*« ranny. He was at firft more mild than
*« his Father : But afterwards having bv his
AmbafTadors contracted a Friendfhip with
Thrafyhulus Tyrant of Miletus^ he became far
more cruel than Cypfelus. He fent one to
ask Thrafyhulus in his Name, how he might
manage his Affairs, and govern the Corin-
*' thians in the fafeft manner : The Milefian
*' conduding this Perfon out of the Ciry, en-
** ter'd with him into a Field of Corn, which
he travers'd in every Part*, and enrercain-
ing him with Queftions frequently repeat-
*' ed concerning hU Voyage from Corinth^ cut
D 4 '^ down
C6
(C
56 HERODO'fUS.
«« down and threw away all the tailed Stems
*' he founJ in his Piffage ; till he had deftroy'd
»' the bed and faireft of the Wheat in thac
" manner. When he had done this quite over
ft' the Piece of Ground, he difmifs'd the Am-
*' baflador, without charging him with any
«' Meffage. At his Return, Per lander was ear-
*' neft to know the Anfwer of Thrafjhulus^
*' but he affur'd him he had receiv'd none-, and
** wond'ring he fhouid be fent to fuch a mad
«« Man, who deftroy'd his own Goods, related
*' what he had feen him do. Periander prefent-
«' ly comprehended the Meaning of Thraf^huluSy
*' and underilanding that by this A6lion he
*« had counfel'd him to take away the Lives
<« of the moft eminent Citizens, exercis'd all
*' manner of Cruelties in Corinth^ and by
*' Death and Banifliment exterminated thofe
«' who had efcap'd the Fury of Cyp/elus. Be-
« fides, he ftripp'd all the Corinthian Women
<< of their Cloches in one Day, on the account
*c of his Wife Meliffa, For when he fent
«' Me(T>ngers into Thefprotia upon the River
" Acheron^ to confuit her after her Death, con-
«' cerning a Treafure depofited in her Hands
« by a Friend, Mel'ijja appearing, faid, (he
<« would make no Diicovery, nor tell in what
«' Place it lay, becaufe (he was cold and na-
^* ked *, the Clothes which were buried with
If' her proving ufclefs, by reafon they had not
*' been burn*d. And to confirm the Truth of
♦^ this fhe added, that Periander had put his
«' Bread into a cold Oven. When thefe Words
«' were reported to Periander^ he well under-
?' ftood the Comparifon of Melijfa^ becaufe
V* he had indeed lain with her after Death ;
«' and
BookV. 7ERPSICH0RE. 57
" and immediately commanded Proclamarioa
*< to be miJe, that all the Wives of the Co-
'« rinthians fhould appear forthwith in the
" TtrmpW of Juno. The Women went rhirher
*« according] V, richly drefs'd, as their Man-
«' ner was on Fcllival Diys ; and were all
«' ftripp'd with their Attendants by the Guards
«' o^ Per lander^ which he had privately intro-
*' duc'd to that end. Then taking up the Gar-
*' ments, he order'd them to be carried and
" burnt on the Grave of Melijfa^ whilft he pcr-
«' form'd his Devotions there. This done, he
*' fent again to enquire concerning the Trea-
«' fure of his Friend, and the Phantom ofM/)/<^j, know,
*' that the Corinthians will have no Part in
*' the Attempt." Thus fpoke Soficles^ Am-
bafTador of Corinth. But Hippias^ after he
had attefted the fame Gods, told him that
the Corinthians v/ould be the firft of all Peo-
ple to regret the Pififtratides, when the fatal
Time fhould come, that they fliould be op-
prefs'd by the Athenians : And this he faid, in
Confidence of certain Oracles, which he was
more
>
58 H E RO D OTU S.
mox-e acquainted with than any Man. The reft
of the Confederates, who had been filent be-
fore, having heard the Speech of Softcksy open-
ly declared themfelves ; and unanimoufly em-
bracing the Sentiments of the Corinthian' Am-
bafiador, adjured the Lacedemonians not to in-
troduce any Innovation into a Grecian City.
And thus that Defign was defeated.
A F T E R the Departure of Hippias^ Amyn-
ias King of Macedonia^ made him an Offer of
Anthemus^ and the ThefTalians another o^ loU
€US't but accepting neither, he return'd to Si-
geum^ which Piftjlratus had formerly taken from
the Mityleneans, and put into the Hands of his
natural Son Hegefiftratus^ born of an Argiaa
Woman. Yet he was not undifturb' d in his
PcfTefrion: For the Mityleneans from Achilleumy
and the Athenians from Sigeum^ enter'd into a
long War about the City ; the firft demand^
ing Reftitution, and the Athenians rejedling
their Claim, and afTerting, that the ^olian$
had no more Right to the Territories of Iliumy
than they, or any of the Grecians, who af-
fifted Menelaus after the Rape of Helena, Mar
ny remarkable Adlions of various kinds hapr
pen'd during this War: Among others, one re^
lating to the Poet Alcaus\ who being prefent ia
a Battle, and feeing the Athenians victorious,
fled out of the Field and made his efcape : But
the Athenians having found his Arms, hung
them up in the Temple of Minerva at Sigeum:
And on that Occafion Alcc^us afterwards com-
pos'd a Poem, which he publifh'd in Mitylene^
lamenting the Difgrace to his Companion
Melanippus, In the End, Periander the Son
of Cypfelus being chofen Arbitrator on both
4 fidesj
BookV. TERPSICHORE. 59
fices, reconciled ihe Athenians and Micyle-
neans, on Condition that each Party fliould re-
tain what they had. And by this Title the
Athenians pofTefs'd Sigeum.
AFTER the Return of Hippias from Lace-
demon to Jfidy he fee all his Invention to work
againft the Athenians •, endeavouring by Afpsr-
fions to render them odious to ArtapherneSy and
omitting nothing that might tend to reduce
Athens under the Power of Darius and himfelf.
Which when the Athenians underftood, they
fent Ambafladofs to Sardis^ with Inftrudions to
follicic the Perfians not to give ear to the Athe-
nian Exiles. But Artaphernes haughtily told
them, that if they defir'd to be fafe, they muft
receive //i/);)/rti again. The Athenians rejeded
the Condicion, and chofe rather to declare open
Enmity againft the Perfians. When they had
taken this Rcfolution, and were on thefe Terms
with the Perfians \ in that Conjundure Artfta-
goras the Miiefian, who had been commanded
to depart from Sparta byCleomenes the Lacedemo-
nian, arriv'd in Athens \ which of all the Gre-
cian Cities was the principal in Power, Tliere,
addreffing himfelf to the popular AlTembly,
he repeated all that he had faid before in Sparta
touching the Wealth of Afia : And to encou-
rage them farther to make War upon the Per-
fians, he afiTui'd them, that having neither
Shield nor Lance, they muft of neccflity be
an eafy Conquefi. He withall reminded them,
that the Milefians were a Colony of tne
Athenians, and might juftly exped their Af-
fiftancc in this Exigency, fince they were ar-
riv'J to fo great Power. In a word, he omic-
led no kind of Prgnpifes qt Prayersi 5 till ac
length,
6o HERODOTUS.
length, he obtain'd their Confent. For he
thought a Multitude might with more Facility
be feduc'd than one Man. And thus he, who
had not been able to prevail with Cleomenes
the Lacedemonian fingly, perfuaded thirty
thoufand Athenians to do whatever he defir'd.
In this Difpofition the Athenians by a publick
Decree determin'd to fend twenty Ships to
the Succour of the lonians, under the Con-
dudl of Melanthius^ a Man univerfally efteem'd
in Athens, And from this Source the Evils
that afrerwards fell upon the Grecians and
Barbarians, were principally deriv'd. Arifta-
goras fail'd before the Departure of this Fleer,
/ and arriving \n Miletus ^ form*d a Defign, which
could be of no Advantage to the lonians ; nor
was contriv'd by him to that End ; but only
to make Darius uneafy. He fent a Man into
Pbrygia^ tothePasonians, who had been carried
away Prifoners by Megabyzus from the River
Sinmon^ and pUc'd in a certain Diftridt of
Fbrygia ; where they inhabited together. When
this Perfon arriv'd he made the following
Speech ; " Men of Pceonia^ Arijlagoras the
«' Milefian has fent me hither, to open a Way
*' for your Deliverance, if you will take his
*' Advice. All Ionia has revolted from the
*' King, and therefore you may fafely return
*' to your own Country: For you can meet
*' with no Obftrudion from hence to the Sea ;
*' and the reft fhall be our Care." The Pa^oni-
ans heard the Propofition with exceeding Joy,
and having aflembled their Wives and Chil-
dren, fled away towards the Coaft ; a few
only excepted, who fearing the Confequences
ftaid behind. When they were come to the Sea,
4 they
BookV. TERPSICHORE. 6i
they imbark'd; and pafs'd over to Chio: Where
they were no fooner landed, than the Perfian
Cavalry arriv'd in great Numbers on the Shoar,
purfuing the Paeonians •, and finding they had
made their Efcape, fent Orders to Cbio ^ to
command them to return. But the Paeonians
flighting the Meflage, were transported by
the Chians to Lesbos, and by the Lefbians to
Dorifcus i from whence they march'd by Land
into Paonia. In the mean time the Athenians
arriv'd with twenty Ships at Miletus, accom-
panied by five more of the Eretrians, whoen-
gag'd not in this Expedition on the account
of the Athenians -, but to requite a preceding
Kindnefs they had receiv'd from the Milefians.
For in a former War the Milefians had taken
Part with the Eretrians, againft the Chalci-
deans fupported by the Samians their Confede-
rates. Ariftagoras, after the Arrival of this
Succour, and the reft of his Allies, refolv'd to
attempt Sardis. But becaufe he himfelf defign'd
to ftay zx. Miletus, and not to go with the Army
in Perfon, he appointed his Brother Charopinus
to command the Milefians and plac'd Hermo-
phantus at the Head of the other Forces. The
loniiins arriving at Ephefus, left their Ships in
the Harbour of Core/us, belonging to that City i
and chufing Ephefians for their Guides, ad-
vanc'd with a numerous Army by the Side of the
River Cayfirus ', pafs'd the Mountain Tmolus, and
coming before Sardis^ took the City without
Oppofition. But Artaphernes with a (Irong Ga-
rifon kept the Caftle from falling into their
Hands ; and an Accident happening, depriv'd
them likewife of the Pillage they expeded :
For as moft of the Houfes in Sardis were built
with
36 HERODOTUS.
with Cane ; and even thofc which were built
with Brick, were roof*d with Canes, one
Houfe being fet on fire by a Soldier, fpread
the Flame throughout the Place. During this
Fire, all the Lydians and Perfians who were
in the City, finding no way open for their
Efcape, becaufe the Flame had feiz'd the
outermoft Parts, ran together in great Num-
bers to the publick Place -, thro' the midft of
which the River Pa^oius runs, Iweeping down
Grains of Gold from the Hills of fmolus^
and being afterwards receiv'd by the HermuSi
pafles thro' the fame Channel to the Sea. Thus
the Lydians and Perfians being aflTembled in
great Multitudes upon the Place, and on
both fides of the River, were conftrain'd to
defend themf-lves : And the lonians feeing
one Part of the En^^my (landing in their De-
fence, and greater Njmbcrs ready to fupport
them, retir'd with Precipitation to the Moun-
tain J'?nolus^ and march'd away by Night to
their Ships. In this Conflagration, the Tem-
ple of Cybele, the Go Jdefs of that Country, was
burnt j which afterwards ferv'd the Perfians
for a Pretence to fn on fire the Temples of
Greece. When the Perfians who had their Ha*
bitations on this fide the River Halys^ were
inform'd of thefe things, they drew together,
and march'd to the Succour of the Lydians: But
not finding the lonians at Sardis, they fol-
lowed them with all Diligence to Ephefus \
where rhey fought and defeated the Ionian Ar-
my with great Slaughter. In this Battle many-
ill uftrious Perfons were kill'd ; and among o-
thers, Euakides General of the Eretrians, who
on account of his Olympian Vi(^ories having
obtained
BookV. TERPSICHORE, 60
obtain'd divers Crowns, had been highly cele-
brated by Simonides the Cean. Thofe who
efcap'd out of the Field, difpers^d then:ifelves
into various Places. And fuch was the Succefs
of this Expedition. After which, the Atheni-
ans totally abandon'd the lonians ; and when
they were follicited on their Part by the Ambaf-
fadors of Ariftagoras in the mod prefling Terms,
declai'd they would fend them no Afliftance.
But the lonians, tho' they were deprived of
that Succour •, vet becaufe they had done fo
much againft JDarius, prepared themfelves to
carry on the War with no lefs Vigour than
before ; and failing into the Hellefpont reduc'd
Byzantium^ with all the adjacent Cities under
their Obedience. Then proceeding farther
with their Fl^et, they prevail'd with many of
the Carians to become their Confederates ;
for the City of Caums, which before had rejedt-
ed their Alliance, refolv'd to affift the lonians
after the burning of Sardis. And all the Cypri-
ans, except the Amathufians, readily enter'd
into the fame Confederacy ; having already re-
volted from Darius in this manner : Onefilus
the younger Brother of Gor^2/;Kingof theSala-
minians, Son to Cherfis, and Grandfon of Siro-
mus the Son of Euelthon^ having formerly foli-
cited his Brother at divers times to revolt a-
gainft the King •, when he heard of the Ionian
Defedion, renew'd his Inftances with greater
Earneftnefs than before. But finding he could
not prevail upon Gorgus, he waited an Oppor-
tunity ; and one Day, when his Brother was
gone out of the City with his Partizans, fhuC
the Gates againft him. Gorgus being thus ex-
cluded, fled tQ the Medes i and Onefilus having
poficfi'd
64 HERODOTUS.
poflefs'd himfelf of Salamis, perfuided the Cy-
prians to join with him, and befieg'd the Ama,
thufians who fmgly refub'd to revolt at his
Solicitation. Whilft Oneftlus was employ'd in
the Siege of Amathus^ Darius being inform'd
that Sardis had been taken and burnt by the
Athenians and lonians, and that Arijlngoras the
Milefian had been the Author of this Con-
federacy, as well as the Contriver of that En-
terprize; was not much conccrn'd about the
lonians, who, he doubted nor, might beeafily
puni(h*d for their Rebellion ; but demanding
what People thofe Athenians were, he had no
fooner receiv'd an Anfwer to that Queftion,
than taking a Bow into his Hand, he let go
an Arrow into the Air, with thefe Words ;
«' Grant, O Jupiter, that I may be reveng'd
" of the Athenians 1" After he had thus fpo-
ken, he commanded one of his Attendants
thrice to repeat the enfuing Words, every time
he fhould fit down to eat, " Monarch, re-
** member the Athenians." Then calling Hi^
JiicBUs the Milefian, whom he had long dctain'd
with him, Darius faid ; •< I am inform'd. Hi-
fii(£USy that the Governor you appointed to
*' command in Miletus during your Abfence,
** has executed an injurious Enterprize againft
•* me ; for he has brought Men into Afta
*' from the other Continent, and having per-
*' fuaded the lonians, who fhall not go long
** unpunifh'd, to join them, has with thofe
*' Forces deprived me of Sardis. Can you
*' think thefe A<51ions commrndable ? Or can
*' any one imagine they were done without
*' your Advice? Bi careful then fore to avoid
♦' fuch Faults for the future." To thi^ Hijiiaus
*• anfwer'd ;
BookV. TERPSICHORE, 65
anfwer^d, *' O King, what have you faid ?
" Thac 1 fhou'd advife a thing, which mighc
«' give you the lead Occafion of Difcontent!
« What Advantage could I propofe to myfelf
" by fuch an Adlion ? Can I want any thing?
" I who live in the fame Splendor with you,
*' and am honour'd with the Confidence of
" all your Counfels ? If my Lieutenant is guil-
*« ty of the Adlions you mention, be afTur'd,
<'' he himfelf has been the Contriver. Buc
<' in the firft Place, I cannot perfuade my-
^« felf, that he and the Milefians have attempt-
" ed any thing againft your Authority. Yec
«' if the Charge (hould be true, and he has
*' indeed done as you have been informed, con-
" fider, O King, whether your Affairs are
*' not prejudic'd by my Abfence from the ma-
" ritim Parts. For the lonians feem only to have
" waited till I fhould be withdrawn, to put
*' in execution a Defign they had conceiv'd
" before ; and if I had continued in lonia^
<« not one of thofe Cities would have revolted.
" Difmifs me therefore with Speed, and fend
«' me back to Ionia *, that I may reftore the
" Affairs of thofe Countries to their former
*' Condition, and deliver the Milefian Deputy
*' into your Hands, who has been the Au-
*' thor of thefe Enterprizes. When I have
«« perform'd this according to your Defire,
*' I fvvear by the Gods of the King, not to
«' change the Garments I wear in my Voy-
" age to lonia^ before I render the great If-
*' land of SardiniambutdiXy ioVrrius.^^ Hifti^-
us faid thefe Words in order lo deceive the
King j and fucceeded in his Defign. For Ba-
rius was perfuaded to let him go: Only com-
VoL. II. E manding
1
66 HERODOTUS.
manding him to return to Sufa, fo foon as the
things he had promis'd fliould be perform'd.
WHEN the News of Sardu was brought
to the King, and he fhot an Arrow into the
Air •, vvhillt he conferr'd with Hifticeus^ and
Hifti^iis was on his Journey to the Sea j in all
this Time the following Adions pafs'd. Onefi-
lus the Salaminian, who was employed in the
Siege of Ajnaihus^ having received Information,
that a great Army under the Condudl of Arty-
hius a Perfian, was fuddenly expedled to land
in Cyprus^ fent Heralds to demand the AfTiftance
of the lonians: who without much hefitation
afifembled a confiderable Fleet, and fail'd to
Cyprus. The Perfians on their Part landing
their Men from Cilicia^ march'd up to Salamiy^
while the Phoenicians kept cruifing with their
Ships about the Promontory which is called
the Key of the Ifland. In the mean Time the
Cyprian Princes fummon'd the Ionian Captains
together, and fpoke to them in thefe Terms ;
*' Men of Ionia, we give you the Choice er-
^' ther to fight againft the Perfians or Phceni-
" cians. If you chufe to engage the Perfians
*' in a land Battle, 'tis time to bring your
*' Forces afhoar, that we may go on board
" your Shipsj and fight the Phoenicians: But
*' if you are more willing to make an Experi-
*' ment of your Strength againft the Phcenici-
*' ans do as you think convenient ; that whe-
*' ther you determine one way or the other,
'^ we may endeavour with all our Power to
*' preferve the Liberty of Cpyrus and lonia.'^
To this Difcourfe the lonians anfwer'd, " We
«' are fent by the general Council of Ionia ta
*^ defend the Sea -, and noc to deliver our Ships
*« to
BookV. TERPSICHORE 79
" to the Cyprians, in order to fight the PeiTi-
«' ans by Land. We fiiall endeavour to do
«' our Duty in the beft manner we can, accord-
*' ing to the Infi:ru6lionswehave receiv'd. On
*' your part, the Remembrance of the Evils
'« you fuffer'd under the Tyranny of theMedes,
" ought to incite you to exert the utmoft
" of your Courage and Virtue." Soon after
this anfwer made by the lonians, the Perfians
were feen advancing into the Plains of Sala-
mis 9 upon which the Kings of C);pr^j drawing
up their Forces in order of Battle, plac'd the
beft of the Salaminians and Solians againft the
Front of the Perfians, and all the reft of the
Cyprians againft the Enemy's Auxiliaries. One-
filus voluntarily plac'd himfelf diredlly againft
Artybius the Perfian General, who was mount-
ed on a manag'd Horfe accuftom'd to rife a-
gainft an arm'd Enemy. Of this Onefilus had
been already inform'd ; and having with him
an Officer well skilTd in Military Affairs, and
of great Boldnefs, he faid to him ; '-^Artyhius
«' is mounted on a Horfe, taught to ftand up-
*' right, and with his Feet and Teeth to kill
*« the Man he is puHi'd againft; Chufe there -
" fore immediately, whether thou wilt under-
'' take to deal with Artybius or his Horfe. I
*' am ready anfwer'd the Officer, to do both,
or either, or any other thing you ftiall com-
mand; but I ftiall take liberty to propofe
that which I think moft conducing to your
" Honour. He who is a King and a General,
*' ftiould never decline to engage againft one
'' who is of the fame Condition. For if you
" kill him, your Glory is great *, and if he
*^ kills you, which the Gods avert, you are
E 2 *' only
^8 H E RO D 0 ru S.
« only unfortunate in part, becaufe you fall
" by a noble Hand. In the mean time we
" Subjecfhs will fight againft thofe who are
*« our Equals: And as to the Horfe, you have
" nothing to fear; for I take upon me, to
«' prevent him from falling upon any Man,
" for the time to come." Soon after thefe
Words, the Armies engag'd both by Sea and
Land. All the lonians fought vigoroufly, and
defeated the Phcenicians at Sea : But the Sa-
mians furpafs'd the reft in Valour that Day.
By Land when the Armies met, and the Bat-
tle was begun, Artyhius pufli'd his Horfe to-
wards Oneftlus^ and Onefilus ftruck Artyhius^ as
he had concerted before with his Officer. The
Officer on his part, feeing the Horfe raifing
his Feet to the Shield of Onefilus^ ftruck him
with a Scythe, and cut them both off: So
that Artybius the Perfian General, fell with
his Horfe to the Ground at one Blow. Buc
as the Difpute grew hot on both fides, Stefenor
Tyrant of Curium^ which is faid to be a Co-
lony of ArgoSy revolted to the Enemy with
a confierable Number of Forces under his
Command ; and prefently after this Treachery
of the Curians, the Chariots of War belonging
to Salamis follow'd their Example: By which
means the Perfians obtain'd the Victory, and
the Cyprians were put to flight with great
Slaughter. Among others Onefdus the Son
ot Cherfis^ who had perfuaded the Cyprians
to revolt, was kill'd in this Battle ; toge-
ther with Ariftocyprus King of the Solians,
the Son of that Pbiiocyprus, who of all the
Princes of his Time is moft commended in the
Verfes of Solon che Athenian, which he m icie
luring
Book V. TERPSICHORE. (ip
during his Stay at Cyprus. The Amathufians
cut off the Head of Onefilus, becaufe he had
befieg'd their City, and plac'd it over the
Gates of Amathus : Where, after feme time
when the Head was become empty, a fwarm
of Bees encer'd and fill'd the Skull with Honey.
Upon which the Amathufians confulting the
Oracle, were admonifh'd, that if they would
interr the Head, and facrifice annually to O^e-
filus, as to a Hero, their Affairs ihould prof-
per. The Amathufians did accordingly, and
continued thofe Sacrifices to my Time. The
lonians, who had fought by Sea on the Coaft
of Cyprus, hearing the Difafter of OnefiluSy
and that the reft of the Cyprian Cities were
befieg'd, except Salamis, which the Salaminians
had reflor'd to their former King Gorgus, fail'd
away to Ionia, Of all the Cities of Cyprus^
Soli fuflain'd the longefl Siege : But in the fifth
Month the Place was taken by the Perfians ;
after they had undermin'd the Walls. And
thus the Cyprians having been a free People
during one Year, were again reduc'd into Ser-
vitude.
BAUR IS E S, Hymees, and Otanes, whofe
Wives were Daughters to Darius^ having toge-
ther with other Perfian Generals, purfued thofe
lonians who made War againll Sardis to their
Ships, and afterwards defeated them in the
Field, feparated themfelves, in order to deftroy
the Citi'^s'. Daurifes direding his March towards
thofe of the Hellefpont, took Dardanus, Ahydus^
Fercote, Latripjacus, and Pefus ; employing no
more than one Day in the Redudlion of each.
But advancing from Pefus towards Pariu7nj he
receiv'd a MeiTage, importing, that the Carians
E 3 entertaining
70 HERODOTUS.
entertaining a Correfpondence with the loni*
ans, had Hkewife revoked from the Perfians.
Upon this Advice he abandon'd the Hellefpont^
and led his Army againft the Carians ; who
being informed of his March, before his Ar-
rival in their Territories, aiTembled their For-
ces at a Place call'd the fVhite Columns^ upoa
the River Marfya^ which pafies thro' the Coun-
try of Hydrias^ and falls into the Meander. Di-
vers Propofitions were made in this Camp 5
but none, in my Opinion, fo good as that of
Pixodarus the Son of Maufohts^ a Cyndian, who
had married the Daughter of 6')'^;/;7^j King of Cz-
licia. He advis'd, that the Carians would pafs
the Meander^ and fight the Perfians on the other
fide -, that having the River in their Rear, and
no Way left to retreat, they might be necefll-
tated to keep their Ground, and furpafs the
common Valour of Men. But the Carians re-
jecting his Propofition, refoiv'd to let the Per-
fians pafs the Meander ; to the end that if they
fnould be beaten, the River might be in the
Way, and cut off their Retreat. So the Per-
fians advancing pafs'd the Meander ; and the
Carians expelling the Enemy on the Banks of
the River Marfya, fought a long and bloody
Battle, till at laft , opprefs'd with Numbers, they
were totally defeated. In this Adion two
Thoufand Perfians and ten Thoufand Carians
were kili'd. The reft of the Carians who
efcap*d out of the Fight, Bxd to Lahranda^ and
betook themfelves to a vaft Grove, facred to the
military Jupiter^ and fiU'd with Plane-trees.
They are the only People we know, who
facrince to that Deity, under the Name of the
God of A.rn:iies« When they had taken fanclu-
ary
Book V. TERPS ICHO RE. 71
ary in that Place, willing to make the beft Pro-
vifion they could for their own Safety, they
confuked together, whether they fhouldfunen-
der themfelves to the Perfians, or entirely aban-
don J/ta : And while they deliberated about
this .'Affair, the Milefians with their Confede-
rates came to their Afliflance : Which fo encou-
rag'd the Carians, that they immediately chang'd
their Dcfign, and refolv'd to try the Fortune of
War again. Accordingly they met the Perfians
and fought another Battle with more Obflina-
cy than the former ; but in the end were put
to flight, with great Slaughter -, in which the
Milefians fuffer'd molt. Yet after this Blow the
Carians continued to carry on the War ; and
hearing that the Perfians defign'd to invade their
Cities, plac'dan Ambufcade on the Way toD^-
fus ; into which the Perfians falling by Night,
were cut in Pieces, with their Generals Dau-
rifeSj Amorges and Sifa??iaces, Myrfes the Son of
Gyges was likewife invoiv'd in this Slaughter :
And fuch was the End of thefe Perfians. He-
raclides the Son of Ibanolis, a Mylefian, was the
Author of this Enterprize.
HTMEES^ another of thofe who purfu'd the
lonians after the Expedition of Sardis^ bending
his March towards the Prcpontis^ took the City
of Ciu5 in Myfia, But hearing that Daurifes had
quitted the Hellefpont^ and was advancing a-
gainft the Carians, he abandon'd the Propontis ;
and being arriv'd with his Army on the Helle-
y^o«/, fubdued allthe^Eoliansof the IlianCoaft,
together with the Gergithes, who were the
only remaining People of the ancient Teucri-
ans : And after the Conquefi: of thefe Nations
died at Troas, In the mean time Artaphemes^
^' E 4 Gover-
72 HERODOTUS.
Governor of Sardis^ and Otanes^ who was one
of the three Generals, being appointed to in-
vade Toniay with the confining Territories of
the iEoIians, pofTefs'd themfelves of Clazomene^
belonging to the lonians, and took C'jme from
the JEolians. The News of which Difafters fo
difcompos'd the Mind of Ariftagoras the Mile-
Han, who knew he had been the Difturber of
lonia^ and Author of thefe great Confufions,
that he began to confider how to make his E-
fcape ; fince he evidently faw he could do nothing
effedlually againft Darius. To that end he fum-
mon'd thofe of his Fadlion together *, and ha-
ving told them their common Safety requir'd,
that Care fhould be taken to fecure a Place of
Refuge, in cafe they (hould be expell'd from
Miletus ; he ask'd, whether he ought to condu6l
a Colony to Sardinia., or to the City of Myrci-
nus^ built by Hifticeus in the Country of Edone^
which he received from Darius. But Hecatceus
the Hiftorian, Son to Hegefander^ declared his
Opinion againft both thefe Propofitions, and
faid, that if they fhould be compel'd to relin-
quifh Miletus^ they ought to build a City in the
Ifland Lerus., and there continue quiet, 'till they
could fafely return back again. This was the
Counfel of Hecatceus, Neverthelefs Ariftagoras
chufing rather to go to Myrcinus^ left the Govern-
ment of Miletus in the Hands of P-jthagoras an
eminent Citizen ; and together with all thofe
who were willing to accompany him, fail'd in-
to Thrace and took PofTefllon of the Region to
which he was bound, But as he was befieging
a Place fituate beyond thofe Limits, he perifh'd
with his Army by the Hands of certain Thraci-
ans, who before had offer'd to furrender upon
Terms. THE
[73]
THE
Hiftory of Herodotus,
BOOK vi.
ERATO.
THUS died AriftagoraSy who induc'd the
lonians to revolt : And HifticEUS Tyrant of
Miletus^ having obtain'd Leave of Darius^ went
to Sardis, where when he arriv'd from Sufiiy
Artaphernes^ Governour of Sardis, ask'd his Opi-
nion concerning the Caiife of the Ionian Defecti-
on. HifticBUS faid. He could not imagine: And
pretending to be ignorant of all that had pafs'd,
feem'd extremely furpriz'd at the Account he
heard. But Artaphernes perceiving his Diflimu-
lation, and being fully informed of the true
Reafon of the Revolt, reply'd, '« HiJlicsuSy this
" Affair ftands thus ; Thou waft the Maker of
" that Shoe, which Ariflagoras put upon his
** Foot." By which Words Hiftiaus colledling
that ^r/j/?^(?r;7^j was well informed j and fearing
the Ccnfequences, went away the following
Night towards the Sea, and deceiv'd Darius:
For inftead of reducing the great Ifland o{ Sar-
dinia^ according to his Promife, he took upon
himfelf the Conduft of the Ionian War againft
the King. At his landing in Ch'io he was feiz'd
by the Chians, upon Sufpicion that he had
fome Defign to execute there in favour of
Darius. But when they underftood the whole
Truth,
74 HERODOTUS.
Truth, and found he was an Enemy to the King
they fet him at liberty again. During his Stay
in that Place, being queition'd by they lonians
to what end he had to earneftfy prefs'd Arifia-
goras by iVTefl^iges to revolt from Darius^ and
brought fuch Difafters upon Ionia ; he concealed
the true Reafon, and told them, that the King
had refolv'd to bring the Phoenicians into Ionia
and to tranfport the lonians into Phoenicia, This,
he faid, was the Caufe of his Meflage to Arif-
tagoras : and thus he alarm'd the lonians ;
tho' indeed Darius had never form'd any fuch
Defign. After thefe things, he gain'd one Her-
fnippus an Atarnian, and fent him to Sardii
with Letters to certain Perfians he had dif-
cours'd with before concerning a Revolt. But
Hennippus not delivering the Letters to the
Perfons to whom they were addrefs'd, put them
into the Hands of Artaphernes j who by this
means perceiving what was doing, commanded
the Meflenger to deliver the Letters of Hijlicsus
according to his Inftrudlions, and bring to him
the Anfwers he fhould receive from the Perfians.
Thm Artaphernes having made a full Difcovery,
put many of the Perfians to death, and caus'd
a great Diforder in Sardis. Hifticsus difappoint-
ed of thefe Hopes, was conducted back to
Miletus by the Chians at his own Requeft : But,
the Milefians being pleas'd with their Delive-
rance from Arifiagoras^ and the Liberty they
enjoy'd, would by no means receive another
Tyrant into their Country. Upon which, en-
deavouring to enter the City by Night with
an arm'd Force, he was wounded in the Shoulder
by a Milefian, and after that Repulfe return'd
to Qhio. But finding he could notperfuade the
Chiana
ookV. "TERPS ICH ORE, 75
Chians to entruft him with their Fleet, he pafs'd
over CO Mitylene and prevail'd with the Lef-
bians to furnifh him with eight Ships *, which
they fitted out, and accompanied him to 5)1-
zantium. In this Station they took all the Ships
that came out of the Euxin^ except fuch as were
willing CO take pare with Hijiicsus,
DURING the Courfe of thefe Adions
done by Hiftimis and the Mityleneans, the
Enemy prepared to attack Miletus with a for-
midable Army, and a numerous Fleet. For
the Perfian Generals flighting the other Pla-
ces had drawn all their Troops together in
order to that Attempt. Their maricim For-
ces confided of the Phoenicians, Cilicians and
Egyptians, with the Cyprians, who had beea
lately fubdued: But of all thefe, the Phoeni-
cians fbew'd the greateft Zeal to forward the
Enterprize. When the lonians heard of the
Enemy's Preparations againft Miletus and the
reft of lonia^ they fent the principal Perfons
of their feveral Councils to the General Af-
fcmbly ; where being arriv'd, and confulting
together, they unanimoufly refolv'd, that they
would not bring together any Land Forces
to oppofe the Perfians -, but whilil the Mi-
lefians fhould defend the City to the utmoft
of their Power, would arm and fit out all the
Ships they had ; and then repairing with all
Expedition to Lade^ a little Illand n^^iX Miletus r
engage the Enemy in a Sea Battle within View
of the Milefians. In this Refolution the lonians
mann'd their Ships, and appearing at the Ren-
dezvous in Conjunction iwith thofe^Eolians who
inhabit jEolia^ drew their Fleet into the follow-
ing Order.' The Milefians with 80 Ships were
rane'd
11
76
HERO D 0 rifS.
rang'd at the Head of the Line, ftretching to
the Eaftward ; and next to thefe the Prienians
with twelve Ships, and the Myufians with
three, followed by feventeen of the Teians,
and a hundred Sail of Chians, The Centre
-was compos'd of the Erythraeans in eight, the
Phocxans in three, and the Lesbians in feventy
Ships. The Samians alone with fixty Sail were
plac'd in the Rear to the Weftward. So that
the whole Ionian Fleet confided of three
hundred fifty three Ships. And though three
Barbarians arriv'd on the Milefian Coaft with
fix hundred Ships, and all their Land Forces ;
yet the Perfian Generals hearing the Number
of the Ionian Fleet, began to fear they fhould
not obtain the Vidory, nor be able to take
MiletuSy unlefs they could be Mafters at Sea:
And apprehendiug the Difpleafure of Darius^
if the Event fhould prove unfuccefsful, fum-
mon'd together the Tyrants of lonia^ who ha-
ving been expell'd by Arijiagoras out of their
Dominions, had fled to the Medes, and at that
time accompanied the Enemy in the Expedition
againft the Milefians. To thefe Men, when
they were met together, the Perfians fpoke in
the following Terms ♦, "If any among you, O
«' lonians, are defirous to fhow your Affedion
*' to the King's Service, this is the Time.
*' Let every one of you endeavour to divide
" his own Subjects from the reft of the Con- )
«' federacy ; promifmg, in order to that End,
«' that none fliall fuffer on account of their
«« Rebellion •, that we will neither burn the
«' Temples, nor their own private Houfes; and i
'' that they (hall be as favourably treated asbe-
'« fore. But if they refufe this Offer, and re-
4 " folve
Book VI. E R A 1 0. 77
folve to determine the Difpute by the Sword,
acquaint them with the Evils which will in-
evitably enfue upon their Obftinacy : Thar,
after we have conquer'd, they fhall be re-
duc'd to the Condition of Slaves : That we
will make Eunuchs of their Youth ^ tranfport
all their Virgins to Ba^ria, and give their
Country to another People." When the
Perfians had exprefs'd themfelves in this man-
ner, and Night was come, every one of the
Ionian Tyrants difpatch'd a Mefienger to thofe
he had formerly commanded, with Inftrudions
to let them know what they were to expe6t.
But the lonians, upon the Reception of thefe
Meffages, defpis'd their Menaces, and would
not be guilty of fo great Treachery : For each
Nation was of opinion, that they alone were
folicited by the Enemy. Such were the Ani-
ons of the Perfians immediately after their Ar-
rival before Miletus.
THE lonians having aflembled their Fleet
near Lade^ call'd a Council of War -, in which,
after divers Proportions had been made, Diony-
fius General of the Phocasans fpoke to thiseffe(5l.
" Our Affairs, O lonians, are upon a Needle's
Point ; we muft either vindicate our Liberty
now, or be totally enflav'd and punifli'd as
Fugitives. If you would fubmit to fome
Hirdlhips at this time, you may indeed be
uneafy for the prefent : But thofe Toils will
enable you to preferve your Freedom, and
overcome your Enemies. Whereas if you
abandon your felves to Effeminacy and Dif-
order, I defpair to fee you efcape with Im-
punity out of the Hands of the King. Yec
*« could I perfuade you to follow my Advice,
" and
(4
(C
C(
r
f^gnifies a Ram. " ^^ point your Horns with Brals 5
«' for you have a formidable E-
" nemy to encounter." 'Demaratus the Son of
Arifton was likewife King of Sparta at the fame
time with Cieomenes \ and ftaying at home, af-
pers'd the Condud of his Collegue. He was
indeed of the younger Branch ; but as they were
both defcended from the fame Stock, their No-
bility was equal ; except only that the Fami-
ly of EuryftheneSy being the elder, was more
refpedled. The Lacedemonians differing from
all the Poets, affirm, That they were not con-
3 du(fted
BookVL ERATO, 97
duded into the Region they now pofTefs, by
the Sons of jiriflodemus ', but by their King
Ariftodemus himfelf, who was the Son of Arijlo-
7nachus^ Grandfon of Cleod^tis, andGreat-grand-
fon to Hyllus : That in a little time after their
arrival, Jrgiva the Wife of Ariftodernus^ and
Daughter, as they fay, to Autefion the Son of
^ifamenes^ whofe Father was Therfander the
Son of Polynices, brought him two Male Chil-
dren at a Birth *, whom he had no fooner feen
than he died by Sicknefs : That the Lacedemo-
nians, according to the Cuftom they obferv'd in
that Age, determining to receive the eldeft for
their King, and not knowing which to chufe^
becaufe they were in every thing alike, went
to examine the Mother touching the Birth of
the Children : That fhe, either really ignorant,
or, which is more probable, difTembling the
Knowledge fhe had, out of a great Dcfire to
fee both her Sons created Kings, denied fhe
knew any thing of the Primogeniture: That
the Lacedemonians continuing ftill in doubt,
fent to inquire of the Oracle at Delphi, what
Refokition they fhould take ; and that the
Pythian exhorted them to receive both for
their Kings, but to pay the greatefl: Honours
to the eldeft : That after this Anfwer they
were in no lefs Perplexity than before ; till
one Panites a MefTenian advis'd the Lacedemo-
nians CO obferve which of the two Children
the Mother would firft wafh and feed ; afluring
them, that if fhe was conftant to the fame Me-
thod, they might be certain of the thing
they (o much defir'd to know -, but if fhe fhould
vary in her manned, and apply her Care in-
differently to both, they ought to believe fhe
Vol, IL G knew
98 HERODOTUS.
knew nothing of the Matter in queftion, and
endeavour to find out feme other Expedient :
That the Spartans, in purfuance of his Advice,
having diligently obferv'd the Mother, who
had no Sufpicion of their Defign ; and imagin-
ing they perceiv'd her to give the Priority to
one of the Sons of Ariftode?nuSy rather than to
the otlier, they took him as the Eldeft ; edu-
cated him at the Expence of the Publick;-
nam'd him Eur'^ftheneS', and gave the Name of
Procles to the Younger : That thefe two Bro-
thers, after they had attain'd the Age of Men^
could never agree during all the time of their
Lives ^ and that this Animofity became heredi-
tary in their Defcendants. The Lacedemoni-
ans are the only People of Greece who report
thefe things: But I muft not omit to mention
what the reft of the Grecians fay on this Sub-
jedt. They affirm then. That all the Dorian
Kings from Ferfeus the Son of Jupiter by Danas^
are rightly computed by the Grecians, and were
accounted Grecians in thofe Times* I fay,
from Perfcus, and go no higher :, becaufe he had
no Sirname deriv'd from a mortal Father, as
Hercules had from A?nphjirion: And therefore I
may with reafon forbear to look backward far-
ther than Perfeus. But if we trace the Gene-
alogy of Danae the Daughter of Acrifius^ and
enumerate their Anceftors of the Male Line,
we fiiall find that the Leaders of the Dorians
were originally Natives of Eg'jpt : And this
is the Account given by the Grecians. Nc-
verthelefs, the receiv'd Opinion among the
Perfians is, that Perfeus, being an Affyrian by
Birth, became a Grecian by fettling in Greece^
which none of his Anceftors had ever done. For
2 -^ the
Book vr.
ERJTO.
99
the Anceftors of Jcrifnis were no way related
to Perfeus, but wereT^gyptians, as the Grecians ^
themfeJves own. And this I think fufficient to
fay concerning thefe things; forbearing to men-
tion in what manner they who were Egyptians,
accepted the Offer of the Dorian Kingdom ;
becaufe others have related that Tranfadion i
and contenting myfelf with giving an Account
of fuch Particulars as I find to have been o-
mitted by them. The Spartans conferr'd thefe
Honours upon their Kings. In the firfl place.
That they Oiould enjoy the Prieflhood, both of
the Lacedemonian and the Olympian Jupiter:
That they might make War in any Region at
their pleafure ; and that no Spartan fhould
hinder them from fo doings under Penalty of
incurring the Guile of Impiety : That in all
Expeditions they fhould lead the Van, and
bring up the Rear in their Return : That in the
Field they fhould have a hundred chofen Men
for their Guard : That they might facrificc
what kind of Cattle they fliould think fit before
they began their March, and that the Skins
with the Chine fhould belong to them. Thefe
Advantages they have in times of War -^ and in
peaceable times thofe that follow. In the Ce-
lebration of all publick Sacrifices, the Kings fic
firft down to the Feafl, are firft ferv'd, and
receive a double Allowance of whatever is
given to the reft of the Company. They have
the firft Potion at the Libation, and the Skins
of the Vi<5lims, Every New Moon, and Se-
venth Day of every Month, a whole Vic-
tim is prefented to each of them in the Tem-
ple of Apollo at the publick Charge ; accom-
panied with a Meafure of Flour, and the
G 2 fourth
100 HERODOTUS.
fourth Part of a Laconian Vefiel of Wine.
They have the principal Places at all publick
Spectacles ; and may appoint luch Citizens as
they pieafe, to receive and entertain Strangers.
Each of thefe Kings have the Privilege of e-
Jefling two Pythians ; who are to be fent upon
occafion to confulc the Oracle of Delphi , and
have their Provifion with the Kings at the
publick Charge. When the Kings are not pre-
fent at Supper, "two Meafures of Flour, with
a Flaggon of Wine, are lent home to each :
But when they are prefent, they receive a
double Portion of every thing. And if they
are invited to eat with private Perfons, they are
treated with the fame Honours. They have
the keeping of all Prophecies, which they are
oblig'd to communicate to the Pythians. But
the Kings alone have the Direflion of the fol-
lowing Affairs. They have the Power of de-
termining who ought to marry thofe HeirefTes,
who have not been contraded during the Lives
of their Fathers. They have the Care of the
publick Highways : And if any Man defires to
adopt a Son, he is oblig'd to perform that Act
before the Kings. They may be prefent, when-
ever they pieafe, in the Affembly of the Senate,
which conlifts of twenty eight Senators : And
if they are abfent, two of thofe Senators who
are mod trufted by the Kings, enjoy their Pri-
vileges, and have two Ballots befides their
own. Thefe Advantages are conferr'd by the
Republick of Sparta^ upon their Kings while
they live -, thofe which follow, when they are
dead. Horfemen are difpatch'd thro' all Lacoma
to notify their Death : Women are appointed to
march thro' every Part of the City, beating upon
Kettles %
Book VI. ERATO. loi
Kettle; during which time one Man and one
Woman, both free-born, are oblig'd under great
Penalties, to appear out of every Houfe with
all the Marks of Mourning and Lamentation.
To be fhort, the Lacedemonians celebrate i\\q
Funerals of their Kings in the fame Manner as
is pradifed by the Barbarians of Afia ; who
for the moft part, vary nothing from the Spar-
tans in the Performance of thefe Ceremonies,
For upon the Death of a LacedemonianK ing
certain Numbers of the Inhabitans of the
Country are oblig'd to attend the Funeral with
open Breads, thofe of the City being fingly
exempted: And when many Thoufands of thefe
are met together, with the Helotes, and even
Spartans both Men and .Women, they cou-.
rageoufly cut themfelves on the Forehead, and
wich incefH^nt Howlings cry out, that the
laft King was the be(t they ever had. If
one of their Kings die in War, his Effigy is
prepar'd and expos'd to puclick View, plac'd
on a Bed of State. When they bury him,
all Bufmefs ceafes for ten Days ; the Courts are
not affembled, and the Mourning continues du-
ring that time. Their Cuiloms are farther
conformable to thofe of the Perfians •, in that,
when a King dies, and the SuccefTor enters
upon the Adminiftration, he remits whatever
Debts may be due from any Spartan to the
King or the Publick; as the King of Per-
fta at his AccefTion to the Throne difchar-
ges all the Cities from the Arrears of Tri-
bute due to his Predeceffor. In other things
the Lacedemonians refemble the IE^y}pii-
ans in their Manners. For every Herald,*^ Ma-
fician, and Cook, takes upon him the Pro-
G 3 feiSoa
102 HERODOTUS.
felTion of his Father: So that a Mufician be-r
gets a Mufician; one Cook begets another,
and the Son of a Herald is always of the fame
ProfeiTion, no Man endeavouring to fupplant
him by fhewing he has a clearer Voice*, hJt
on the contrary every one continues to exer-
cife his Father's Art. And fuch is the Account
of thefe things.
WHILST Cleomenes continued at jEgina^
endeavouring to promote the common Caufe of
Greece, Demaraius accus'd him at home ; not fo
much out of Kindnefs to the iEginetes, as
from motives of Envy and Hatred. But Cleo-
tnenes, upon his Return, confuhing in what
manner he might deprive Demaratus of the
Kingdom, took this Pretext to colour his De-
ilgn. When Arifion reign'd in Sparta, he mar-
ried two Wives, and had no Child by either \
but not acknowledging any Defed in himfelf,
he married a third in this manner. He had a
Friend, who was a Spartan, and more entrufted
by him than any other Citizen. The Wife of
this Man was the mofl beautiful Woman of
all Sparta, tho' fhe had formerly been ex-
ceedingly deform'd. But her Nurfe perceiving
her Deformity, and knowing her to be the
Daughter of eminent Perfons, and that her
Parents were fenfibly afflidled with the Mis-
fortune, determined to carry her every day
to the Temple of Helena, which is built in
^herapne, above the Temple of Apollo, Hither
fhe daily brought the Child, and (landing be-
fore the Image of the Goddefs, pray'd fhe might
no longer continue in that Deformity. The
common Report is, that as the Nurfe was one
day going out of the Temple, a Woman ap-
peared
Book VI. ERAro. 103
pear'd to her, and ask'd what fhe had in her
Arms: that the Nurfe anfwer'd fhe carried an
Infant j which when the Woman defir'd to fee,
the Nurfe refus'd to comply, becaufe the Pa-
rents had commanded her to fhew the Child to
none : that upon this Refufal the Woman cx-
prefllng a greater Defire to fee the Infant,
prevail'd at lad upon the Nurfe to grant her Re-
queft ; and ftroaking the Head of the Child
with her Hands, faid fhe fhould become the
moft beautiful Woman of Sparta •, and from that
Day her Deformity began to diminifh. When
{he had attain'd to a convenient Age, fhe was
married to Agetui the Son of Alcides^ and Con-
fident of Arifton. Pleas'd with the Beauty of
this Woman, Arifton contriv'd the following
Dsfign. He acquainted Agetus, who was her
Husband and his funiliar Friend, that he
would make him a Prefent of any one thing
he fhouid chufe out of all his PofTefTions, on
Condition he would oblige himfelf to do the
like to him. Agetus not fufpeding any Defign
upon his Wife, becaufe he knew Arifton had
one already, accepted the Propofal ^ and an
Oath for mutual Performance was fworn on
both fides. Accordingly Arifton gave him the
thing he chofe out of all his Treafures \ and
then pretending to the fame Compliance from
Agetus^ demanded his Wife. Agetus acknow-
ledge all other things to have been included
in the Agreement, but thought that his Wife
had been excepted, Nevercheiefs finding him-
felf under the Obligation of an Oath, and
deceiv'd by the Artifice of the King, he per-
mitted him to take her away. In this manner
Arifton married a third Wife^ and at the fame
G JL time
104 HERODOruS.
time divorc'd his fecond. But before the ufual
Term was expir'd, and the ten Months elaps'd
Vemaratus was born of this Woman : And when
one of his Servants came to tell him as he fat
with the Ephori, that he brought him the News
of a Son i Arifton not forgetting the time of his
Marriage, but counting the Months upon his
Fingers, faid with an Oath in prefence of the
Ephori, Thh Child is not mine. The Ephori
feem'd at that time to make no account of thofe
Words : Bat when the Boy grew up, Arifton
repented of what he had faid, being then fully
perfuaded that Bemaratus was his Son, He
gave him the Name of Demaratus^ becaufe be-
fore his Birth the Spartans had made publick
Supplications, xX^tX Arifton^ whom they efteem'd
the mod iiluflrious of all the Kings they ever
had, might have a Son. After fom.e time
Arifton died, and Demaratus obtain'd the King-
dom. But the Fates feem'd to have determin'd
that the Words of the Father fhould deprive
the Son of his Authority : and therefore as he
had formerly been accus'd by Cleomenes for
leading away the Army from Eleufis *, fo he
was now again for procuring Cleomenes to- be
recaird from his Expedition againft the Mgx-
netes, who were in the Intereft of the Medes.
When Cleomenes had thus begun to take his Re-
venge, he enier'd into an Agreement with
Leutychides the Son of Menaris and Grandfon of
Agis, a Perfon of the fame Family with Defna-
ratus ; under this Condition, that if he fhould
make him King in the Place ofBemaratus^ Leuty-
chides fhould accompany him in an Expedition
againfl the iEginetes. Leutychides was an Ene-
my of DemaraUiSi chiefly for this Reafon. He
had
Book VI. ERAro. 105
had been upon the point of marrying Penaluniy
the Daughter of Chilon the Son o^'Demarmenes ;
when Demaratus by an infidious Contrivance
difappointed him of his Bride, and having pof-
fefs'd himfelf of the Woman by Violence, re-
tained her for his Wife. On this account Leu-
tycbUes became his Enemy, and at the Tnftiga-
tion of Cleomenes^ fvvore Demaratus had no
Right to be King of Sparta^ becaufe he was
not the Son o^ Arifiori'-, confirming his AfTevs-
ration with the Words fpoken by Arifton, when
upon the Meflage he receiv'd concerning the
Birch of his Son, and the Computation he maJe
of the time elaps'd after his Marriage, he af-
firm'd with an Oath, that the Child was not
his. Infilling upon the Authority of thefe
Words, Leutychides openly maintain'd that De-
maratus was neither the Son of Ariftoriy nor
rightful King o^ Sparta \ and for the Truth of
his Aflercion appealed to the Ephori, who then
fat by the King, and heard him pronounce
the Words in Queftion. Thus the Matter be-
ing drawn into Difpute, the Spartans decer-
min'd to enquire of the Oracle at Delphi^ whe-
\ ther Demaratus were the Son of Arifton or not.
But before this Refolution was divulg'J, Cleo^
rnenes with a timely Forefight took care to pre-
engage one Cohon the Son of Arijiophantus ; who
being a Perfon of great Authority in Delphi^ pre-
vail'd with Perialla the Arch-Prieftefs to give
fuch an Anfwer as Cleomenes defir'd. So that
when the Spartans came to confulc the Ora-
cle, the Pythian pronounc'd Demaratus not to
be the Son o^ Arifton : Which Collufion being
afterwards difcover'd, Cobon fled from Delphi^
and Perialla was deprived of her Dignity. By
this
106 HERODOTUS.
this means Demaratus was depos'dj and in
conclufion ^becook himfelf to the Medes on
account of an Aftronc he receiv'd. For af-
ter his D^pofition, being chofen into the Ma-
giilracy, as he was one Day prefent at the
Gymnaftick Exercifes of the Youth, Leuty-
chides who had been appointed King in his
room, fent a Mefifenger to afk him in De-
rilion, «' What he thought of being an in-
*« ferior Magiftrate afcer he had been a King."
Demaratus difturb'd with the Infolence of his
Meflcige, anfwer'd, " That he indeed had ex-
perienc'd both , but Leuiychides had not ;
and added. That this Queftion fhould be
'' the Caufe either of innumerable Calamities,
" or great Profperity to the Lacedemonians."
"When he had faid thefe Words, and cover'd
his Face, he went out of the Theatre to his
Houfe, where he facrific'd an Oxto Jupiter \
and fending for his Mother to the Oblation,
put the Entrails of the Vidim into her Hands,
and fpoke to her in thefe pathetick Terms:
^^ Mother, I adjure you by all the Gods, and
*« by Jupiter^ the Df^ity of our Houfe, to tell me
«' the Truth, and let me know plainly who was
my Father. For in thefe late Contefts Leut'j^
chides 2L^xx\\'d that you were with Child by
your former Hufband before you became the
*' Wife of Arifton: Oihers with more Impu-
*' dence fiy, you had the Corqpany of one
*' who kept the AfTes, and that I am the Son of
that Wretch : I adjure you therefore by the
Gods to inform me of the Truth. For if you
*' have done as they fay, you are not fin^
*' gly guilty •, others have done the like. Be-
*' fides, many of the Spartans are perfua-
^^ ded
cc
c c
cc
BookVI. ERATO. 107
<' ded that Arifton was incapable of begetting
« Children: Ocherwife, they lay, his for-
*< mer Wives had not been unfruitful." When
JDemaratus had thus fpoken, his Mother an-
iwer'd him in this manner : '' Son, becaufe
«' you fo earneftly defire me to fpeak the
«< Truth, I fhall conceal nothing from you.
<« The third Night after Arifton had conduded
" me home to his Houfe, a Phantom entire-
«* ly like him in Shape, enter'd my Chamber,
" and having lain with me, put a Crown on
«« my Head, and went out again, Arifton
*« himfelf foon after came in, and feeing the
^' Crown on my Head, ask'd. Who had made
<« me that Prefenr. I anfwer'd. He himfelf:
" But perceiving he would not own the thing,
*' I added an Oath to my Aflertion, and told
«' him he did not well to deny what he had
*^ done, having been fo lately in my Chamx-
" ber, and giving me the Crown after he had
f* lain with me. When Arifton heard me fwear
" with fuch Aflurance, he prefently concluded
" that fomething divine had been with me.
*' And indeed, not only the Crown was found
<« to have been taken from the Monuinent of
«« the Hero Aftrohacus^ which (lands by the
*' Gates of the Palace, but the Prophets like-
«' wife afErm'd, That the Hero himfelf had
" brought it. This, my Son, is the whole
<< Truth, which you fo much defir'd to know :
*« And therefore either the Hero Aftrobacus, or
<« elfe Arifton was your Father ; for I conceiv'd
«' you in that Night. And as to that Reproach
«« which your Enemies endeavour chiefly to
«' fallen upon you, by afHrming that Arifton
^^ himfelfj when he receiv'd the News of your
" Birth,
\
108 HERODOTUS.
«' Birth, faid in the prefence of many Perfbns,
'■' that you could not be his Son ; thofe Words
*' were thrown out by him for want of fuffi-
<' cienr Information concerning fuch matters.
'' For Women are not always accuftom'd to
••' bear their Children ten Months : But fome
'' are delivered in nine, and others even in fe-
*' ven. You, my Son, was born within the
" Space of feven Months ; and Arifton himfelf
'^ was in a little time convinc'd, that thofe
« Words were the Effed: of his Ignorance.
" Believe nothing therefore in Derogation of
" your Birth ; for I have told you all the Truth
'' with Sincerity. And if Leutycbides or any
«' other has calumniated us with the Fable of
'' the Keeper of our Afies, may their Wives
*' bring them Children fo begotten/' Demara-
tus having thus fatisfied himfelf concerning the
matter he defir'd to know, prepared all things
necelTary for his Voyage, and departed to Elis'y
pretending he deiign'd to go to Delphi^ in or-
der to confult the Oracle. Buc the Lacede-
monians fufpedling that he intended to make
his Efcape, follow'd him to Eli5\ and finding
he had already pafs'd over to Zacyj^thus^ they
purfued him thither, and feiz'd him with his
Attendants. Yet they could not obtain their
Ends ; becaufe the Zacynthians refus'd to deli-
ver him up ; and by that means he made his E-
fcape into Afia, where Darius received hi.m ho-
nourably, and prefented him with Lands and Ci-
ties. Thus Demaratus went away to Afia, unfor-
tunately difgrac'd, after he had been famous a-
mong the Spartans both in Counfel and Adlion,
and crown'd at the Olympian Exercifes, for
the Vidory he obtaifi'd in the Chariot- Race ;
which
Book VI. E R A t: 0. 109
which had never happen'd before to any King
0^ Sparta. Leut'jcbides the Son of Menaris^ crea-
ted King in the place of Demaratus^, had a Son
named "Leuxidamus^ who by fome of the Spar-
tans is caird C'jnifcus. This Zeuxidamus was
never King of Sparta \ for he died before his
Father, leaving behind him a Son named Ar-
chidamus. Leutycbides, after the Death of his
Son, took for his fecond Wife Euryda7?ie the
Sifter of Menius, and Daughter to Dia^oris^
who brought him no Male Child, and only one
Daughter nam'd Lampito^ whom he gave in
Marriage to Archidamus the Son of Zeuxidamus.
Neverthelefs, Leut'jchides could not continue in
Sparta io thttnd oi his Life ; but by his own
Crime made fome kind of Reparation to Be-
maratus. For while he was making war in
I'heffaly at the Head of the Lacedemonian Ar-
my, and might eafily have conquer'd all the
Country, he fuffer'd himfelf to be corrupted
with Money ; and was furpriz'd in the very
Adl of carrying away Silver in both his hands.
On this account being fummon'd to appear
in the Court of Jtiftice, he fled from Sparta ;
his Houfe was demolifh'd, and having" made
his Efcape to Tegea^ he ended his Life in that
City.
CZ£0M£N£6' having fuccefsfullyaccom-
plifh'd his Defign againft Demaratus^ and being
highly incens'd againfl the .^ginetes for the
Affront he had received, oblig'd Leutychides to
accompany him in his Expedition to Mgina \
and finding no Oppofuion from the iEginetes,
who would not refift both the Kings united
againfl them, they took ten of the moft emi-
nent Citizens in Birth, Riches and Dignity,
I (among
ii
iio HERODOfUS.
(among them Crws the Son of Polycrilus, and
Cafamhus the Son of Ariftocrates^ who had ihs
principal Authority) carried them away Prilo-
ners to Attica^ and put them into the Hands of
the Athenians their greateft Enemies. After this
Expedition, Cleomenes growing jealous of the
Spartans becaufe they had difcover'd his fraudu-
lent Praclices againfl: Bemaratus^ fled away pri-
vately to TheJJaly^y and from thence pa fTing into
Arcadia, began to form new Defigns, foliciting
the Arcadians to make War upon Sparta, and en-
gaging them by an Oath to follow him to what
Part foever he would lead them. He likewife
endeavoured to perfuade the principal Inhabi-
tants to accompany him to Nonacris, a City of
Arcadia, not far from Pheneos, in order to fweaf
by the Stygian Waters, which, the Arcadians fay
are found in that Place. And indeed there is!
Spring diftilling flowly from a Rock into a Ba*
fon inclos'd with a Wail. When the Lacedemo^
nians were informed of thefe Intrigues of Cleomi*
fiesy they fear'd the Event, and recalling him to
Sparta, rellor'd him to his former Dignity. But
he was no fooner return'd, than he fell into a
Frenzy, of which he had felt fome Attacks be-
fore ', llriking the Spartans without Diftindlioni
when they came near him, with his Sceptre,
on the Face. His Relations feeing thefe out-
ragious Aftions, and perceiving him to be de-
prived of his Underflanding, refolv'd to fettef
him. But when he found himfelf treated ift
this manner, and faw only one of his Keep*
ers with him, he demanded his Sword. Tht
Keeper at firfl refufed to obey ; yet afcef
Cleomenes had threaten'd to punifli him fof
his Difobedience, dreading the effedl of his
Menaces,
Book VI. ERATO. m
Menaces, becaufe he was one of his Helots,
he gave him his Sword : "Which Cleomenes ca-
king into his Hand, began to cut his Flelh
from the Ancle upward, and made long Incifi-
ons reaching to his Thigh : Then proceeding
by the Hip and Groin, he arriv'd at his Belly,
which he ripp'd up, and died in this manner.
Moft of the Grecians fay, he was thus punifh'd
for fuborning the Pythian to frame the Anfwer
fhe gave concerning Demaratus : The Atheni-
ans alone pretend, that his Invafion of Eleufis^
where he pillag'd the Temples of the Gods, .
drew thefe Difafters upon him : and the Ar-
gians affirm that he came to this miferable End
becaufe he had violated the Temple of Argos,
by cutting in pieces thefe Argians who took
San6luary there after the Battle ; and burnt:
down the facred Grove in Contempt. For
when Cleomenes confulted the Oracle of Delphi^
the Anfwer he receiv'd was, that he fhould cake
Argos, Upon this AfFurance marching at the
Head of the Spartans he arriv'd at the River
Erafinus, which, as they fay, beginnings at the
Stymphalian Lake,and pafTing thro' a fubterrane-
ous Cavity of the Earth, rifes again in Jrgos^
and on that account by the Argians is called
Erafinus- Cleomenes upon his Arrival facrificM
to the God of die River : But finding the En-
trails of the Vidim without any Marks of a
fuccefsful Pafifage, he faid, that tho' he could
not be difpleas'd with Erafinus becaufe he would
not betray his own People, yet the Argians
fliould have no caufe to rejoice. Decamping
therefore with his Army, he march'd to Tbyrea ;
where, after he had facrific'd a Bull to the
Sea, he inibark'd, and tranfported all his
Forces
112 HERODOTUS.
Forces to the Country about Tiryns and Nauplia.
The Argians hearing of their Arrival, march'd
out towards the Sea, and being advanc'd near
the Cicy of T'iryns, to a Place calPd Sipea^ they
Incamp'd in view of the Lacedemonians, lea-
ving only a fmall Interval between the two
Armies. They were not afraid of coming to a
fair Battle, but of being furpriz'd by Fraud and
Stratagem •, becaufe the Oracle, they and the
Milefians had jointly receiv'd from the Pythian,
feem'd to predid fuch an Event. The Words
were thefe :
PFben in the Streets of Argos Female Pride
Shall be exalted^ and the Male expel *,
'The?! Jhall be Jrgian Dames fo fadly mourn j
That every one who pajfes by may fay^
Killed by a Spear the deadly Serpent lies.
All thefe things happening together, ftruck the
Argians with great Terror •, fo that they re-
folv'd to govern their Adlions by the Signals of
the Enemy ; and accordingly when any thing
was fignified to the Lacedemonians, they took
the fame for a Signal to themfelves. Cleomenes
being informed that the Argians regulated their
Adlions by the Signals they heard from his
Camp, gave order to the Spartans, that inftead
of going to Dinner upon the ufual Signal, they
fhould betake themfelves to their Arms, and
march out againft the Argians. The Lacedemo-
nians executed his Order, and falling upon the
Argians at the time of their Dinner, kill'd
many on the Spot •, and having driven a far
greater Number into the Grove, furrounded
them there. After which Cleomenes having re-
ceiv'd
Book VI. ERATd. 113
ceiv'd full Information by Defertcrs concerning
their Perfons, fcnt a Herald to fummon by
Name all the Argians who had taken Sanduary
in the facred Ground, to come out and pay
their Ranfom ; which in Peloponnefus is fix'd at
two Mines of Silver for every Man. Upon
this Summons fifty of the Argians coming ouc
one after another, Cleomenes caus'd them to be
put to death whilfl: thofe who ftill continued
within, could not fee the Slaughter, by reafon
of the Thicknefs of the Grove : till at laft one
of the befieg'd getting up into a Tree, difco-
ver'd the Treachery, and prevented the reft
from obeying his Summons. Cleomenes feeing
this, commanded all the Helots to furround
the Grove with combuilible Materials •, and
after they had executed his Orders, he fet fire
to the place. When all was in a Flame, he ask'd
one of the Fugi lives, to what God that Grove
was confecrutcd ; and being told to Argos^
Cleomenes^ wi.:h a deep Sigh, faid, " O Apollo \
<'0 Prophet! how haft thou deluded me, by
** promifmg that I fhouVJ take Argos ? Now I
*' know thy Prophecy is accompllfhM" After
feme time Cle07nenes fcnt home the greacer
Part of his Ariny to Sparta^ and retaining a
thoufand chofen M-*:i with him, went to
the Temple of June-, in order to facrince on
her Altar. But the Prieft forbidding him
to proceed, told him that no Stranger might
facrifice in that Temple: Wnich Refufal Cleo-
tnenes taking in Diidain, commanded his He-
lots to drag the Prieft from the Altar and
beat him. In the mean time he himfelf fi-
crific'd ; and when he had perform'd his De-
votions, went away to Sparta. Ac his Return
Vol. II. , H he
IT4 HERODOTUS.
he was fummon'd to appear before the Ephori
by his Enemies, who accus'd him of Corrupti-
on •, and affirm'd that in Confideration of Mo-
ney receiv'd, he had negledled the Conqueft
of ^rgos^ which he might eafily have accom-
plifh'd. I know not whether the Anfwer of
Cleomenes were true or falfe : But however his
Anfwer was, that he thought the Oracle ful-
fiU'd when he had taken the Temple of yfr^w,
and therefore refolv'd not to attempt the City,
before he had inquir'd whether Heaven would
favour or obftrud: his Enterpize; and that
whilfthe was facrificing in the Temple of 7««^»
he faw a Flame ifTuing from the Breaft of the
Image •, which he underftood to be a Sign that
he Ihould not take the City of Argos : For faid
he, if the fire had proceeded from the Head,
I fhould have thought the place might have
been taken by attvicking the Caflle -, but per-
ceiving it ifTuing out of the Breaft, I concluded
that the Goddefs would not permit more to be
done. Thefe Reafons feem'd probable to the
Spartans, and Cleomenes was accquicted by a
great Majority. In the mean time Argos was
fo exaufted of Men by the Defeat of the Ar-
gians, that their Servants took upon them the
Adminiitration of Affairs, and exercis'd all
the Magiflracies ; but when the Sons of thofe,
who had been kill'd, grew up, they afTerted
their Right, and ejedled them out of the City.
Thefe Servants after their Expulfion took ti-
ryns by AfTault, and continued there in peace-
able PofTeflion, till they were perfuaded by
one Cleander^ an Arcadian Prophet of Phigafean
Extradion, to attack their Mailers ; and en-
tering into a long War, were at laft fub-
dued
BookVL ERA HO. xi^
dued by the Argians, tho' not without great
Difi^cuky.
TO the Guilt ofthefe Adlions the Argians
attribute the Madnefs and Death of CleomeneSo
But the Spartans deny that he was punifh'd
with Diftradion by any fuperior Power ; and
affirm that his Folly proceeded only from an
intemperate abufe of Wine, which he had
learnt by converfing with the Scythians. For
the Nomades of Scytbia, whofe Country Da-
fius had invaded, being defirous to revenge
that Injury, fent AmbafTadors to conclude an
Alliance with the Spartans on thefe Terms :
That the Scythians fhould endeavour to ma.ke
an Irruption into Media by the River Phafts :
That the Spartans fhould enter the Perfian Do-
minions by the way o^ Ephefus\ and that both
Armies fhould meet and join together at a
certain place appointed to that end. They fajr
that by converfing too much with thefe Scy-
thians Cleomenes contradled an habit of Intem-
perance; that his Madnefs was dcriv'd from
this Caufe, and that the Fiirafe of playing the
Scythian, by v/hich Men underlland drinking.
Wine too liberally, was introduc'd on this oc-
cafion. Thefe things are faid by the Spartans
concerning Cleomenes: But lam of opinion
that he punihS'd himfclf for the Wrong he had
done to Bemaratus.
WHEN the ^ginetes were infom\i of the
Death of Cleomenes^ they fent AmbaiKuiors ra
Sparta with loud Complaints a gain fl Leu ty chides
on account of the Holtages decain^d at Athens:
And the Lacedemonians having fummon'd an
Afiembly to deliberate concernino- the matttrr^r
refoiv'd that the i^ginetes had %tm treated
H 2 wilN
(C
ii6 HE R 0 V 0 ru s.
with Indignity by Leufycbi^JeSy and therefore
determin'd that he fliouli be deliver'd into
their hands, and carried Prifoner to j^gina in
the place of thofe who were det^rin'd by the
Athenians. Bat when they were ready to car-
ry him away, Theafides the Son of Leoprepes, an
eminent Spartan, fpoke to them in thefe Terms :
Men of yEgina^ faid he, what.are you a-
bout to do? Are you refolv'd to take away
" the King of Sparta becaufe he is dehver'd
" into your hands? Confider whether the
" Spartans, when you fhall have executed the
" Order they have now given in Anger, will
*' not bring all the Evils and Defolation of
*' War into your Country on this Occafion.*'
The JEginetes having confider'd thefe Words
were contented to defift ; on condition never-
thelefs that Leutychides would accompany them
to Athens^ and procure the Reftitution of the
Hoftages. Accordingly Leutychides went to
Athens^ and after he had demanded the Per-
fons in queftion, the Athenians feeking by an
artificial Evafion to elude his Inftances, told him
that having receiv'd the Hoftages from two
Kings in Perfon, they could not juftly reftore
them to one in the abfence of the other. Leu-
ty chides finding the Athenians refolv'd upon a
Denial, faid, " Do that, O Athenians, which
<^ pleafes you beft. If you reftore the Hofta-
«' ges, you will do an Adlion of Juftice: If
«« not, the contrary. Yet I will tell you what
<« happen'd formerly concerning a thing de-
" pouted in Sparta, We Spartans fay, thata-
" bout three Ages have pafs'd, fince one Glau-
'^ cus the Son of Epicydides liv'd in Lacedamon ;
" a Man fingularly eminent in all manner of
'• Virtues,
BookVI. ERATO. ii-r
«« Virtues, and more efteem'd for his Juftice
<^ than any other Perfon among the Lacede-
" monians. In his time a certain Milefian
«' came to Sparta^ and being defirous to be
*' acquainted with him fpoke to him in thefe
<* Terms ; Glaucus^ faid he, I am a Milefian,
*« and now come to enjoy the Benefit of thy
«< Juftice, which is fo highly celebrated thro*
" all Greece^ and principally among the lo-
" nians. I have confider'd that Ionia is al-
ways expos'd to great Dangers j and that
on the contrary, Peloponnejus is perpetually
" fecure, becaufe the Inhabitants are known
*' to have no Riches. Upon this Refledlion
" I have determined to depofit with thee one
*' half of my Eftate, which I have reduc'd in-
<' to Money ; being fully affur'd it will be
*' fafe in thy hands. Take then this Silver,
" with this Token, and deliver the Money
" to no other than the Perfon who fhall bring
" the like Mark. When the Milefian had faid
*' thefe Words, Glaucus receiv'd the Treafure,
«' with a Promife to do as he defir'd. After
" a long time the Sons of this Man comino:
" to Sparta^ addrefs'd themfelves to Glaucus^
*' and having fhew'd him the Token, demand-
*' ed the Money which had been depofited in
" his hands. Glaucus in a pafllon told the Men
'* he remembred nothing of the matter, and
*' neither knew, nor cared to know what they
*' meant. Yet, faid he, if I can recover the Me-
'' mory of this thingj will do my Duty ; becaufe
" if I have been intrufled, common Jultice ob'
*' liges me to Reftitution. But if on the con-
*' tary I have receiv'd nothing, I fhall leek that
*' Satisfaction which the Laws of Greece allov/:
H 3 '' And
n8 HERODOTUS.
*' And therefore I afllgn you the term of fouc
*« Months to return hither in order to finifli
«' this Affair. The Milefians thinking they
*' had been defrauded of their Money, departed
«' from Sparta. But Glaucus having afterwards
<« inquired of the Oracle at Delphi^ whetiier
*' he fliould retain thefe Riches by Perjury,
t' receiv'd this Anfwer from the Pythian ii^
" Verfe;
Perfidious Oaths^ and violated Failb,
jire oft attended by a prefent Gain :
Swear boldly then *, becaiije the honeft Man
Mufl die as furely as the vileft Slave.
But know^ that fpeedy Vengance JJoall overtake
^he perjured Criminal % his Son dijgrac^d^
Ahjecl^ andfcorn'd^ Jhall the whole Houfe deftroy :
^hen Jhall the Offspring of the Jv.ji rejoice,
c' When Glaucus heard this, he pray'd the God
f to pardon the Words he had fa id. But the
f' Pythian told him, that to tempt the God, or
*' commit the Crime, was the fame thing. So
Glaucus fent for the Mil fians and reftor -d the
Money. Now I fhall inform you, O Atheni-
«« ans, with what Defign I have related this
<' ]ivent. The Pofterity of Glaucus is utterly
^' exiinguifh'd \ we know not where his Houie
^« Rood, but both he and his are totally extir-
«' pated : By which you may fee that you ought
*« to entertain no other Thought concerning a
'* thing dcpofited, than to make Reftitution to
«' the Owner." Leutychides having finifl:i'd theJe
Words, and finding he could not prevail with
the Athenians, departed from Attica,
BUT
Book VI. ERATO. iip
BUT before the ^ginetes receiv'd the Pu-
nifhment they deferv'd for the Injuries they had
done to the Athenians in favour of the The-
bans, they executed the following Enterprize.
Being incens'd againft the Athenians, and
thinking themfelves injur'd, they prepar'd to
take their Revenge ; and to that end, know-
ing that the Athenian Galley, which they us'd
to lend annually to Delphu was then at Suntum ;
they intercepted the Veffel, and bound many
principal Athenians who were found on board.
From the time of that Difafter the Athenians
refolv'd to omit nothing they could imagine,
in order to diftrefs the ^ginetes. NicodromuSy \
the Son of Cn^tbuSy an eminent Perfon o^ yEgi-
na, had formerly retir'd out of the Ifland in
Difcontent ; and now hearing that the Athe-
nians were determined to attack the -Siginetes,
he enter'd into an Agreement with them to
deliver the City into their Hands on a certain
Day, if they would be ready to afTift him in
his Enterprize at the time appointed. In pur-
fuance of this Engagement, Nicodromus feiz'd
that part of the Place which is call'd the Old-
Town, for the Athenians : But they fail'd to
arrive at the Day prefixed ; becaufe they had
not a fufficient Number of Ships to fight the
iEginetes : and while they were in Treaty with
the Corinthians for Succour, the Opportunity
was loft. Neverthelefs the Corinthians, who
were then great Friends to the Athenians,
aJliifted them at their Requeft, with twenty
Ships *, but took five Drachma's for each ; be-
caufe by their Laws they were forbidden to
let them go without Reward. When the A-
thenians had receiv'd this Succour, and made
H 4 ready
120 HERODOTUS.
ready their own Fleer, they fail'd to jEgina^
with feventy Ships in all, and arriv'd one day
too late. For Nicodromus finding himfelf dif-
appointed by this Delay, had already made
his Efcape by Sea with divers of his Accom-
plices ; who were all receiv'd by the Atheni-
ans, and permitted to fettle in Sunium •, from
whence they afterwards infefted the -^ginetes,
and committed many Depredations on the
Ifland. In the mean time the mod wealthy Ci-
tizens of jEgina having overpower'd the Plebei-
ans of the Party of NicodromuSi put as many of
them to death as fell into their Hands ; and in
their Rage incurred the Guilt of a facrilegious
Crime, which they could never expiate •, but
were ejeded out of the Ifland before they had
appeas'd the Anger of the Goddefs. For as
they led to Execution feven hundred of the
People they had taken Prifoners, one of them
getting loofe, fled to the Temple of Ceres the
Legiflairefs, and entering the Portico, laid hold
upon the Hinges of the Gate : But they pur-
fuing him clofe, and having in vain endea-
vour'd to drag him from the Place, cut off
both his Hands, which they left faflen'd to the
Gate, and forc'd him away in that Conditi-
on. After the i^ginetes had done thefe things,
they fought a Battle by Sea againil the Athe-
nians with feventy Ships •, and being defeated,
fcnt again to the Argians to defire their AfTif-
tance. But the Argians refufing to fuccour them,
alledg'd in their Juftification, that the Ship-
ping of jEgina had been made ufe of by Cleo-
Vienes againlt the Territories of Argos^ and that
the iEginetes had landed their F'orces with
jthe Lacedemonians j as fome of the Sicyonians
had
BookVI. ERATO. 121
had likewife done in the fame Expedition ; with
this difference, that when the Argians had fen-
tenc'd both Nations to the Payment of one
thoufand Talents for their Offence, the Sicyo-
nians acknowledging their Fault, agreed with
the Argians for one hundred Talents : But the
^ginetes were fo arrogant, that they would
not condefcend to own themfelves in the wrong.
For thefe Reafons none of the Argians were
authorized by the Publick toaflift the^Eginetes:
Only about a thoufand Voluntiers under the
Qond\^^of Eurjlates^ who had been victorious
in all the five Olympian Exercifes, march'd to
their Succour. But the greater part of thefe
perifli'd in the War againft the Athenians, and
never returned home from yEgina. Euryhates
himfelf after he had kill'd three feveral Anta-
gonifts in fingle Combat, died by the Hand of
Sophanes the Son of Deceles, who was the fourth
he encountered. Neverthelefs, the ^ginetes
having found an Opportunity of attacking the
Athenians when they were in Diforder, obtain'd
a Vidory, and took four Ships with all the
Men that were on Board.
WHILST the Athenians were thus en-
gag'd in a War againft JEgina, Darius was not
remifs in his Affairs ; but being continually
put in mind by his Servant to remember the
Athenians, and inceffantly furroundcd by the
Pififtratides who were their Enemies, he re-
folv'd to fubdue all thofe Parts of Greece^
which had denied him Earth and Water. To
this End he remov'd Mardonius from his
Command, becaufe he had not fucceeded in
his Expedition by Sea ; and fent Batis a Na-
tive of Mdiay and Arta^bernes the Son of his
Brother
122 HERODOTUS.
Brother Artaphernes^ to make War upon Eretria
and Athens^ with Orders to dedroy thofe Ci-
ties, and bring all the Prifoners to him. After
thefe Generals had been declar'd and had taken
leave of the King, they advanc'd at the Head
of a numerous and well provided Army into
a Plain of Cilicia^ fituate near the Sea, and en-
camp'd there. In the mean time the Fleet ar-
riv'd with VefTels for the Tranfportation of
Horfes •, which Darius in the preceding Year
had commanded the tributary Provinces to fur*
nidi : And when the Men and Horfes were all
imbark'd, they fail'd for the Coaft of /(?«i^,
with fix hundred Galleys. In this Voyage they
would not fhape a direcEl Courfe by the Conti-
nent of Tbrace and the Hellefpont •, but depart-
ing from Samos made an oblique Pafifage thro'
the Icarian Sea among the Cyclades ; chiefly,
fiS I conjecture, dreading to double the Cape of
Mount Athos^ where they had fuftain'd fo great
a Lofs in the former Year ; and partly in order
to attack the Ifland of JSaxus^ which they had
not yet reduc'd. Accordingly, when the Fleet
arriv'd at Naxtis, the Perfians defir'd to make
their firft attempt upon that Place. But the
Naxians remembring what had pafs'd before,
abandon'd their Habitations and fled to the
Mountains : Upon which the Perfians took as
many Prifoners as they could feize *, and after
tliey had burnt the City with the Temples, de-
parted to the reft of the Iflands. During this
Enterprize, the Delians left their Iflands, and
tranfported themfelves to Tenus : But when the
Fleet arriv'd at the Height of Delos, Dalis, who
had the Van, not permitting the Ships to anchor
in that Harbour, proceeded to Rhen^a ^ and be-
5 ing
Book VI. ERATO. 123
I'ng there inform'd where the Delians were, he
fenc a Herald to them with this MefTage:
Sacred Men, upon what Motive have you
relinquifh'd your Habitations, and by your
Flight difcover'dtheill Opinion you have of
rrje? I am not your Enemy in Inclination ;
and befides I have receiv'd a Command from
the King, that in the Region, where two
Gods are born, I (hould commit no Violence
either againft the Inhabitants or the Place.
Return therefore to your Houfes, and refume
the PofTeflion of your IQand. '' After he had
fent this Meflage to the Dt-lians, and burnt
the Weight of three hundred Talents in Frank-
incenfe upon the Altar, he fail'd with the whole
Fleet towards &f/m, accompanied by the loni-
ans and Cohans. The Delians fay, that upon
his Departure the Ifland of Delos was fhaken
by an Earthquake, the firfl: and lafb ever felt in
that place to our time ; and that the God
thereby foretold the Calamities impending over
the Men of that Age. For under the Reigns
of Darius the Son of Hyftafpes, of Xerxes the
Son of Darius^ and of Artaxerres the Son of
Xerxes , I fay, during the time of thefe three
Kings, more difafters fell upon Greece than in
twenty Generations before ; partly brought up-
on us by the Perfians, and partly by the princi-
pal Powers of the Country contending for Supe-
riority. So that the Ifland o^Delos^ tho' unmov'd
before, might probably be fhaken at that time,
as a former Oracle had predicted in thefe
Words :
ril Delos Jhake^ however yei unmoved.
And
124 HERODOruS.
And certainly the Names of thefe three Kings
arc rightly explain'd by the Grecians : For in
our Language Darius fignifies a violent Mailer ;
JCerxes^ martial Man ; ?ind ArtaxerxeSy a migh-
ty Warriour.
AFTER the Barbarians had left Delos^ they
went to the other Iflands, where they recruited
their Army with Men, and took the Sons of the
Inhabitants for Hoftages. Then advancing
farther among the Iflands, they arrived at Ca-
ryftus^ the People of which refus'd either to
put Hoftages into their hands, or to fight a-
gainft their Neighbours of Athe^u and Erelria,
For this caufe the Caryftians were befieg'd by
the Perfians, and their Territories ravag'd, till
at laft they furrender'd at difcretion. By this
time the Eretrians being inform*d that the
Perfians were coming to invade them with
their Fleet, implor'd the AfTiftance of the A-
thenians ; who, at their requeft, order'd thofe
four thoufand Men that were in Pofiefiion of
the Lands formerly belonging to the Chalci-
dean Cavalry, to march to their Succour. But
the Counfels of the Eretrians were corrupted
and unfteddy ; and tho' they had defir'd the
Aid of the Athenians, they could not come
to any fettled Refolution. For fome among
them propos'd to abandon the City, and to
retire into the Mountains of Eubcea ; whilft
others were ready to betray their Country to
the Perfians, in Expectation of private Ad-
vantages to themfelves. So that ^Efchines the
Son o^ Notbon^ a Man of principal Authority
in the City, being perfe6lly inform'd of thefe
Divifions, communicated the preienc State of
their Affairs to the Athenian Forces, and ad-
vis'd
Book VI. ERA "fO. 225
vis*d them to return home, that they might
not be involv'd in the common Ruin. The A-
thenians follow'd his Counfel, and by a timely
Retreat to Oropus^ fav'd themfelves from De-
ftrudlion.
I N the mean time the Perfians arriving on
the Coaftof £r^/n^, brought their Fleet to an
Anchor at Chcerea^ Mgilia^ and the Temple ;
and having poflefs'd themfelves of thofe Places,
landed their Horfes with diligence, and pre-
par'd all things in order to a Battle. But the
Eretrians having been oblig'd by a Plurality
of Voices not to abandon the City, apply'd
themfelves wholly in making provifion for
the Defence of their Walls, and would noc
march out to offer Battle to the Enemy:
Which when the Perfians perceiv'd they be-
gan to attack the Place 5 and after fix Days
bad pafs'd with various Succefs, and great
Slaughter on both fides, Euphorhus the Son
of AlcimachuSi and Philagrus the Son of Cy
neus, Men of confiderable Figure among the
Eretrians, betray'd the City to the Perfians, In
this manner the Perfians became Mafters of
Eretria; where, after they had pillag'd and fet
fire to the Temples, in revenge for thofe
which had been burnt at Sardis, they enflav'd
the Inhabitants, purfuant to the Orders of Da-
rius. When they had taken this City, and refted
a few days, they fail'd to Attica^ and ravag'd
the Country, fuppofmg the Athenians would
a6t no otherwife than the Eretrians had done.
Marathon is a Region of Attica^ more com-
modious for Horfe than any other of that Coun-
try, and fituate near Eretria. To this Place
therefore Hippias the Son of Pififtratus con-
4 dudled
ji6 HERODOfUS.
dudted the Perfians upon their landing ; WhicK
when the Athenians heard, they fenc their
Forces thither alfo under ten Captains ; and one
of thefe was Miltiades, whofe Father Cimon, the
Son of Slefagoras, had been formerly oblig'd to'
fly from Jihens in the time of Piftftratus the Son
of Hippocrates. During his Exile he obtain'd
the Olympian Prize in the Quadrijugal Cha-
riot- race, and transferred the Honour to Miltia-
des his Mother's Son. In the next Olympian
he obtain'd a fecond Vidory with the fame
Horfes^ and permitted Piftftratus to be pro-
claim'd Vi6tor i by which ConcefTion he had
Liberty to return home upon his Honour. At
laft having had the fame Glory a third time, he
was afTaflinated in the Night by the Treachery
of the Sons of Pifijlratus^ after the Death of
their Father. For they fuborn'd certain Perlbns
to that purpofe, who kill'd him in the Prf.ane-
nm. He lies interr'd without the City, beyond
the Highway of Diac^ie *, and his Mares which
had won him three Olympian Prizes, are buried
over againft his Monument. Indeed Evagoras
the Lacedemonian had a fet of Mares, that had
done the fame before -, but befides thefe, none
ever arriv'd to that Excellence. Stefagoras., the
eldeft Son of Ci77ion, was educated in Cher/one-
fus «Onder the Care of his Uncle Miltiades ;
but the younger, in Athens with his Father^
and had the Name of Miltiades from his Ancef-
tor, the Founder of Cherfonefus, This Miltia-
des returning at that time from Cherfonefus^
was made Captain of the Athenians, after he
had twice efcap'd Death ; once, when the
Phoenicians purfu'd him to Imbrus, exceeding-
ly defirous to take a Man of chat Importance^
tn
BookVL ERATO. i^y
in order to prefenc him to the King; and a fe-
cond time, when, after he had efcap'd the Phoe-
nicians, and was return'd home, where he
thought himfelf in Safety, his Enemies accus'd
him to the Magiftrates of ufurping the Tyranny
o{ Cherfonefus, But he was clear'd of this Ac-
cufation, and eleded Captain of the Athenians
by the Suffrages of the People.
WHILST thefe Generals were yet In the
City, they fent a Mefiage to Sparta by one Phi-
difpides an Athenian, who was a MefTenger by
Profeflion. To this Man, as he himfelf faid,
and affirm'd to the Athenians, Pan appear'd
about Mount Parthenius beyond Tegea, calling .
him loudly by his Name, and commanding him
to ask the Athenians, why they made fo litde
account of him, who had always been inclin'd
to favour them, and had already often deferv'd
well of their State, as he refolv'd to do for
the future. The Athenians being then in a
profperous Condition, gave credit to this Re-
port, built a Temple to Pan at the Foot of
the Acropolis^ and from that time honour'd him
with annual Sacrifices and a burning Lamp.
This PbidippideSy who faid he had ieen Pa^
in his way, arriving in Sparta on the frxond
Day after liis Departure from Athens^ fpoke to
the Senate in thefe Terms: *' Men of Lace-
*' demon^ faid he, the Athenians defire you
" to aflift them, and not to fufFer the mod an-
" tient of all the Grecian Cities to be en-
** flav'd by Birbarians: Eretria is already de-
'* ftroy'd, and Greece already weaken'd by the
" Lofsof fo confiderable a Place." The Lace-
demonians having heard the MefTage delivp r'd
by PhidippideSy in purfuance of his Infirudlion?,
con fen ted
128 HERODOTUS.
confented to fuccour the Athenians, but could
not do it immediately, without violating one
of their Laws. For being then at the ninth
Day of the Moon, they faid they might not
march into the Field before the Moon was full,
and therefore would wait that Conjundure. In
the mean time Hippias the Son of Plfijlratus^
having introduc'd the Barbarians into the Plain
of Marathon^ dreamt one night that he lay
wich his Mother ; and from thence concluded,
that he fhould certainly recover the Dominion
of Athens^ and die an aged Man in his own
Houfe. But whilft he was employ'd in tranf-
porting the Booty of Erelria to jEgilia, an Ifland
belonging to the Styrians *, in ranging the Ships
of the Perfian Fleet in the Port of Marathon,
and in drawing up the Barbarians in order of
Battle, he happen'd to cough and fneeze with
fuch Violence, that mod of his Teeth were
fhaken in his Head, and one falling out into
the Sand, could not be found, tho' all pofTible
Search was made for it. Upon which Acci-
dent, with a deep Sigh Hippias faid to thofe
who were prefent, '' This Country neither
*' belongs to us, nor will ever be fubdued by
«' us: And I fhall have no other Fart here
*' than that where my Tooth lies." Thus he
thought his Dream was accomplifh'd.
W HEN the Athenians had drawn their Forces
together at the Temple of Hercules , the Platseans
came in to their AfTiIlance with all the Men they
could raife. They were already under the Pro-
tedion of Athens and the Athenians had gone
thro' many Dangers in their Defence. For
when the PJat2eans faw themfelves opprefs'd by
the Thebans, they firft ofFer'd cheir SubmilTion
to
BookVr. ERArO. 12^
to Cleoinenes the Son of Anaxanclrldes, and to the
Lacedemonians. But they rejed:ed the 0;Fer in
thefe Terms , "We are plac'd, faid they, at fuch
" aDiftance from you, that in time of Necef-
<* fity our Succours will prove ineffedlual. For
»« your Country may be frequently ravag'd be-
" fore we can be informed of your Danger. We
« advife you therefore to put your felves under
" the Protection of the Athenians, who are
<' your Neighbours, and fufficiently able tode-
*' fend you." This Counfrl the Lacedemonians
gave not out of any good Will to thePJatJeans •,
but becaufe they were defirous to fee the Athe-
nians weaken'd by a War againft the Boeotians.
However, thePlatseans approving their Advice,
went to Athens % and arriving there when the
Athenians were met to facrifice to the twelve
Gods, they fat down by the Altar in the pof-
tureofSuppliants, and made their Submiflion in
that place. Which when the Thebans heardj
they lent an Army againft Platcea ; and at the
fame time the Athenians march'd to afTift the
Plataeans. But as they were ready to engage in
Battle, the Corinthians apprehending the Con-
fequences, interpos'd their Offices to reconcile
the contending Parties, and wirh^the Confcnt
of both fides determin'd the Difpute on this
Agreements " That the Thebans fhould per=
" mit all thofe Boeotians, who would no
*' longer be counted Members of Bceotia^ to
*' do as they thought mod convenient for
" themfelves." After this Reconciliation the
Corinthians return'd home, and as the Athenians
were retiring likewife, the Boeotians fell upon
them in their March, but were repuls'd with
Lofs. Upon which Succefs tlve Athenians en-
VoL. IL I Jarg'd
130 HERODOTUS.
^arg'd the Frontier ofthePlacaeans, and inftead
of that appointed by the Corinthians, fix'd the
Limits of the Thebans at A/opus and Hyfia,
In this manner the Plataeans came under the
Prote6lion of the Athenians, and join'd their
Forces at Marathon. When the Army was af-
fembled, a Divifion arofe among the Athenian
Captains ; fome delivering their Opinion a-
gainft fighting, becaufe they were far inferior
in Number to theMedes -, and others as vehe-
mently prefTing to come toa Battle : Among the
laft was Miltiades^ who finding they could not
agree, and that the worfl: Opinion would pro-
bably prevail, went to Callimachus oi Jlphidnay
at that time Polemarch in the Army, and elec-
ted to that Office by the Athenians with the
Privilege of an eleventh Voice. For in former
times the Athenians made the Polemarch equal
10 the Captains in the Decifion of all Matters
in debate. To this Perfon therefore Miltiades
appU'd himfelf in thefe Words: " You alone,
O Callifnachus, mull now determine, either
to fee the Athenians reduc'd to the Con-
dition of Slaves, or by preferving the Li-
berty of your Country, leave an eternal Mo-
nument of your Fame, furpafling the Glo-
ry of Harmodius and Ariftogiton. For the
Athenians were never in fo great Danger
from the time they were firfl a people.
If they fall under the Power of theMedes,
one may eafily imagine what Ufage they
muft exped from Hippias : But if they
conquer, Athens will be the principal City
of Greece. To let you know then by
what means thefe things may be efi^eded
and from what Caufe the Fate of Jlhens is
•' now
Book VI ERATO. 131
'« now in your Hands I fhall acquaint vou
" that we are at this Inftant divided in Opi-
<' nion touching a Battle, fomeof uspropofing
" to fight, and others advifing the contrary.
»« If we decline a Battle, I forefee ron:je great
<' Diflention will fhake the Fidelity of the
«' Army, and induce them to a Compliance
" with the Medes. But if we fight before
" the Corruption Aides into the Hearts of the
" Athenians, we may hope from the Equity
" of the Gods to obtain the Vidory. All
" thefe things are in your Power, and en-
*' tirely depend upon the Refolution you fhall
" take. For if you would fupport my Opi-
'< nion with the Acceffion of your Vote, you
" will fee your Country free, and Athens the
«« moft illuftrious City of Grece: But if you
*' join with thofe who would difluade us from
a Battle you can expedl no other Confequen-
ces than fuch as are moft contrary to thefe
Hopes." Callimachus^ convinc'd by the force
of thefe Reafons, gave his Opinion with
thofe who were for fighting*, and by that
means a Refolution was taken to engage the
Enemy. All thofe Captains, who in the Coun-
cil of War had prefs'd for a Butle, when-
ever their Turn came to command the Army,
yielded that Honour to Miltiades : But tho' he
accepted the Power, yet he would not hazard
an Engagement before his own Day. Wnen
therefore that Day was come, the Athenians
were drawn up in this Order of Battle. Calli-
machus plac'd himfelf at the Head of the right
Wing ; becaufe the Laws of yf/^^;7i afiign'd
that poft to the Polemarch. Then the Tribes,
rang'd in a Line, followed in order •, and laft of
I 2 all
cc
132 HERODOTUS.
all che Plataeans were polled on the Left: From
which time, in the Solemnity of the Quinquen-
nial Sacrifices, the Athenian Orator is oblig*d
to pray for the Welfare of the Platasans, as well
as for the Profperity o^ Athens, The Athenian
Forces drawn up in this manner, were equal in
Front to the Medes. But becaufe they had not
a fufficient Number of Men in the Centre, that
Part was extremely weak, and the main Strength
of the Army confilted in the two Wings. When
all things were thus difpos'd and the Sacrifice
rightly perform'd, the Athenians ran with fpeed
towards the Enemy, tho' the Interval between
the two Armies was no lefs than eight Stades
in Length. The Perfians feeing the Athenians
advancing with fuch Precipitation, prepar'd
themfelves to fuftain the Attack, imputing
their Hade to Folly and Defperation ; be-
caufe they were not only few in Number, but
wholly deftitute both of Horfe and Lancers.
But the Athenians coming up with the Bar-
barians, fell on with fuch Valour, that their
Aclions deferve ever to be rcmembred with
Honour. For they were the firft of all the
Grecians, who had the Courage to look up-
on the Median Habit without Fear, and to
Hand before the Men who wore that Drefs ;
whereas in former time the bare Name of
the Medes was a word of Terror in every
Part of Greece. After a long and obftinate
Fight, that Part of the Barbarian Army, in
which were the Perfians and the Sices, broke
the Center of the Athenians, and purfued
them thro' the Plain. But the Athenians and
the Plat^ans, who were in the right and left
Wings, defeated the Barbarians on both fides;
and
Book VI. ERA'fO 133
and having fuffer'd them to fly out of the Field,
closVi the two Points, and fell upon thofe who
had broken their Centre. When they had
defeated thefe, they purfued the broken Ene-
my with great Slaughter to the Sea, and fee
fire to their Fleer. In this Battle Callimachm
the Polemarch, after he had given fignal Proof
of his Valour, was kill'd, with Stafileus the
Son of Thrafjlust one of the Commanders in
chief: and Cyneg^rus^ the Son of Euphorion^
having laid hold on the Prow of one of the
Enemy's Ships, had his Hand ftruck off with
an Ax, and died of his Wound. Many other
Perfons of confiderable Name were (lain in
this Adion ; and after feven Ships of the Ene-
my had been taken by the Athenians, the Bar-
barians imbark'd in the rell ; and having put
the Booty of Eretria on board, fail'd by the
Promoniory of Sunium, with a D. fign to fur-
prize Athens before the Return of the Army,
The Athenians fay this Enterprize was under-
taken at the Solicitation of the Alcma^onides, and
that they held up a Shield for a Signal to the Per-
fian Fleet. However, whilfl: they were doub-
ling the Cape of Sunium^ the Athenians decam-
ping from the Temple of Hercules in Marathon^
niarch'd with all pofTible diligence to the Suc-
cour of their City ; and before the Barbarians
could arrive, came and encamp'd at another
Temple o^ Hercules in Cynofargis. Upon which the
Barbarians having already pafs'd the Harbour
of Phaleron belonging to the Athenians,a(rembled
their Fleet, and fet fail, in order to return to
Afia. In this Battle of iV/^r(2//6(?;;, werekill'da-
bout fix thouland three hundred of the Barba-
rians, and one hundred and ninety two Athenians
1 3 But
134 HERODOTUS.
But here I mud noc omit a moft furprifing thing
which happen'd during that Adion. One E-
fizelus the Son of Cupagoras^ an Athenian,
fighting in the Rank with a becoming Valour,
loil his fight on a fudden without receiving ei-
ther Wound or Blow in any Part of his Body ;
and from that time continued blind to the end
of his Life. I have heard him, relating the man-
ner of his Misfortune, affirm, that he thought
he faw a Man of uncommon Height (landing
before him in compleat Armour, holding a
Shield cover'd by the Length of his Beard ;
and that this Phantom afterwards paffing by
him, kiird the Perfon who flood next in the
Rank.
DAJlSy in his return to J/ia, arriving at Afy-
fonus, dreamt he faw a Vifion ; and tho' he would
not publifh the Particulars, yet upon the firft
Appearance of Day he order'd all the Fleet to
be fearch'd ; and having found a gilded Image
o^ Apollo in one of the Phoenician Ships, enquired
from what Temple they had taken it. When he
was inform'd where they had the Statue, he
fail'd in his own Ship to Delos, and finding the
Inhabitants reLurn'd thither, he depofited the
Image in one of their Temples, commanding
the Delians to tranfport it to Delmn^ a City of
Tbehes, built on the Sea-coail over againft Chal-
CIS ; and after he had given this order put to
Sea again. Neverthelefs, becaufe the Delians
faiPd to execute his Command, the Thebans
themfelves fending to Delos upon the Admoni-
tion of the Oracle, brought away the Statue
twenty Years after. In the mean time Bath
and Artaphernes arriving in Afia^ conduced the
Eretrian Captives to Sufa : And thg' Darius had
exprefs*d
Book VI. ERATO, 135
exprefs'd great Indignation againfl: the Ere-
trians before the Redudion of that Place, and
charg'd them with the Guilt of beginning the
War *, yet finding they were now his Prifoners,
and entirely in his Power, he did them no o-
ther hurt, than to fend them to inhabit a Sta-
tion belonging to himfelf in the Region of Cijfia^
and going by the Name of Anderica^ didanc
from Siifa two hundred and ten Stades \ and
forty Srades from a Weil which yields Brim-
ftone. Salt and Oil, in this manner : They lee
down a Bucket, faflen'd to a Crane, into the
Well ; and having drawn it up again, put the
Liquor into a Ciftern : Then they pour off the
fame Liquor a fecond time into a Veffel pre-
par'd for that purpofe, and the Separation is
prefently made. For the Brimftone and Salt
fubfide by different ways ; and the Oil, which
is black, of a ftrong Scent, and by the Perfians
caird Radinace, is skimm'd off" and put into
Jarrs. In this Country Darius plac'd the Ere-
trians, who ftill continue to inhabit the fame
Region, and have preferv'd their antient Lan-
guage to our Time. Thus I have finifh'd whaE
1 had to fay concerning the Affairs of the E-
retrians.
AFTER the full Moon, two thoufand Lace-
demonians arrived in Athens^ with fo great a de-
fire of finding the Enemy, that they had fpent
but three Days in their March from Sparta to
Attica: And tho' they came too late to be prefent
at the Battle, yet being violently bent upon
feeing he Medes, they proceed to Aiarathon ;
and when they had fatisfied their Curiofity,
commended the Athenians for their Valour, and
return'd home. But I am amaz'd, and can
I 4 never
136 HERODOrUS.
never comprehend that the Alcmseonides Ihould .
in concert with the Enemy hold up a Shield for
a Si^^nal to the Perfians ; as if they would have
been contented to fee the Athenians fubjed
to the Barbarians, and to Hippias ; they who
had ever fliewn cis much Hatred to Tyrants,
or more, than Callias the fon of Phcenippus^ and
Father of Hipponicus j tho' Callias was the only
Man among the Atiienians, who, bt^fides many
other Adions of the utmoft Enmity, had the
Courage to purchafe the Goods of Piftftratus^
when after his Expulfion they were publickly
fold by a Decree of the People. Callias in-
deed defcrves always to be remembred with
Honour, as well for the eminent Part he had
in reftoring the Liberty of his Country, as for
the A(5lions he perform'd at the Olympian Ex-
ercifes. He won the Race with a fingle Horle,
and was fecond in the Quadrijugal Courfe.
He had been before vidorious in the Pythian
Solemnities, and diftinguifh'd himfelf by his
Magniiicence in the View of all the Grecians,
He was fo indulgent to his threje Daughters,
that when they had attain'd to marriageable
Years, he prefented them with immenfe Riches
and permitted them to chufe their Husbands
out of all the Families in Athens. But fince
nothing is more evident, than that the Alc-
maeonidts were no lefs Haters of Tyrants than
Callias^ my Wonder is the greater •, and I can
never believe that they made a Signal to the
Perfians j they, 1 fay, who in all time had a-
voided to live under Tyranny, and had adiual-
ly by their Contrivance expcll'd the Family of
P/Jljhaiusy acqu'ring by that A6lion a better Ti-
ticj la my Opinion, to be call'd the Deliverers
of
Book VI. ERATO. 137
of Athens^ than Harmodius and Ariftogiton. For
thefe Men by killing Hipparcbus^ only exafp?-
rated thofe who furviv'd ; but could not pre-
vent them from continuing the Tyranny. Where-
as the Alcm^eonides manifeftly reftor'd the
Freedom of Athens^ if we may believe that
they induc'd the Pythian to admoni(h the Lace-
demonians to refcue the Athenians from Servi-
tude, as I mentioned before. Perhaps fome may
pretend, that finding themfelves afterwards up-
on the fame Level with the People, they grew
difcontented, and were willing to betray their
Country : On the contrary, no Men were
ever in greater Efteem among the Athenians,
or had a greater Share in the publick Honours ;
and therefore Reafon forbids us to think that
they held up the Shield on that account. That
a Shield was feen, cannot be denied ; for the
thing is true : But who the Perfon was that
held it up, is altogether unknown to me.
The Alcmseonian Family had ever been con-
fiderable in Athens^ and receiv*d an aHdicional
Luftre from Alcrnccon and Megacles, For when
the Lydiais were ffnr by Crcefus co confulc the
Oracle of Delphi^ AlcmcBon the Son of Megacles
was their Confidenr, and cntertain'd them hof-
pitably : Which Crcefus underftanding, at their
Return, ne fent for him ioSardis, and after his
Arrival gwe him as much Gold as he could
carry about his Body at once. Alcmceon ha-
ving confider'd how to improve the Liberality
of Crcefys to the bed Advantage, put on a Coat
of a vaft Compafs, with Buskins proporti-
onahly wide, and in that Drcfs being con-
duced to the Treafury, ne plac'd himfelf up-
on a great Heap of Gold ; and after he had
cramm'd
138 HERODOTUS.
cramm'd as much into his Buskins as they could
contain, fill'd his Garments on all fides, loaded
his Hair with Ingots, and put many Pieces in-
to his Mouth *, he went out of the Treafury,
hardly able to drag his Buskins after him, and
refembling any thing rather than a Man.
When Creeps faw him in this Condition, with
his Mouth Tullj and every other Part loaded
with Gold, he broke into a Fit of Laughter,
and gave him all he had brought out, with
many other Prefents of no kfs Value. Thus
Alcmcton having enrich'd his Family, was en-
abled to breed Horfes, with which he won
the Quadrijugal Prize at the Olympian Exer-
cifes. But in the fecond Generation after him,
Clijlhenes Tyrant of SicyoHy rai:.'d this Houfe
to a higher Degree of Glory than ever they
had attain'd before. This Chftbenes^ who was
the Son of Jrijlomymus^ and Grandfon to Myron
the Son of Andreas^ had a Daughter nam'd Jga-
rifla, which he purpos'd to marry to the Man
he fhould judge moft worthy among all the
Grecians. To that end, during the Olympian
Solemnity, in which Clifthep.es obtain'd the
Vi6lory in the Quadrijugal Race, he caus'd
open Proclamation to be made, that whoever
of the Grecians thought himfelf worthy to be
Son-in-Law to CUfthenes fhould come to Sicyon
before the Expiration of fixty days ; becaufe
he had determin'd to marry his Daughter with-
in the Compafs of a Year after that time.
Upon which Notification all fuch Grecians
as thought highly of themfelves and their
Country, went to Sicyon \ where CUfthenes had
made Preparations for Races and Wreftling.
From ^^7/}', ^i nv^ d Smindy rides the Son of Hippo-
craieSi
Book VI. ERA to. 239
crates, a Man plung'd in Voluptuoufnefs be-
yond mod Examples, and born at Syharis^
which was then at the Height of its Prof-
perity ; with Damas of Siris, the Son of Sa-
mjris firnamed the Wife. From the Guiph of Io-
nia came Amphimneftus the Son of Epiftrophus of
Epidamnus ; and from JEolia^ Males the Bro-
ther ofTitormus, who furpafs'd all the Grecians
in Strength, and had retir'd to the Extremities
0^ JEolia. From Peloponnefus, ^rr'iv'd Leocides
the Son of Pbidon Tyrant of Jrgos : of that
Phidon, I fay, who prefcrib'd Meafures to the
Peloponnefians ; and exceeding all the Grecians
in Arrogance, remov'd the Elian Judges, and
aflfum'd to himfelf the Power of appointing the
Olympian Exercifes: Amiantm an Arcadian
offrapezus and Son to Lycurgus ; with Lapha-
m the Azanian of P^«;, Son of that Euphoriofty
who, according to a common Report, enter-
tained C^y?d?r and Pollux in his Houfe, and from
that time received all Strangers with great Hof-
pitality : Thefe, with Onomajlus of Elis, the
Son of Agceus, came from Peloponnefus. From
Athens came Megacles the Son of that Alcm^on
who vifited Crcefus \ and Hippoclides ihe Son of
Tifander, in Riches and Beauty farpafTing all
the Athenians of his time. From Eubcea, Lifa-
«/Vj alone, a Native of £r^/n^, which was then
in a flourilhing Condition. From Tbeffaly, Di-
aHorides oi' Cranon-, and from the MolofTians,
Alcon, All thefe were Pretenders to the Daugh-
ter of Clifthenes, and arriv'd in Sicyon before the
fixty Days were expir'u. Clifthenes, 111 purfu-
ance of his Defign, firft examui'd every one
touching hisCouncry and D.icent: Afrer which
he decaia'd them a whole Year, in order ro in-
form
140 HER0D07US.
form himfelf fully of their Fortitude, Tempe-
rance, Infticution, and Manners; converfing
with them frequently apart, and together, and
conducing the Youngeft to the Gvmnaftic Ex-
ercifes. /\bove all he endeavoui'd to difcover
their Inclinations when he entertain'd them
with Feafiing; for he tried all Experiments,
and treated them with great Magnificence
during the whole time they ftaid with him.
But among the feveral Cmdidates he princi-
pally favour'd the Athenians ; efpecially Hippo-
elides the Son of Ttfajider ; becaufe he was e-
fheem'dfor his Courage, and deriv'd hisDefcent
from the Corinthian C'jpfelides. When the Day
was come, which Clijihenes had appointed for
naming the Perfon he fhould chuic ; he facri-
fic'd a Hecatomb, and invited the Pretenders,
with all the Sicyonians, to the Feaft. After
Supper ihey entei'd into a Difpute concerning
Mufick, and other things that occafionally fell
into Difcourfe at that time: And as the Wine
went warmly about, Hippoclides with an aflu-
ming Air commanded the Mufician ro play a
Tune caird Emmelia ; in which being readily o-
bey'd, he danc'd with much Satisfadion to him-
felf; tho' C///?/:?^;?^j obferving all that pafi'd, be-
gan to fufpecfl the Event. When Hippoclides had
finiO-i'd his Dance, and refted fome time, he
commanded a Table to be brought in ; which
was no fooner done, than mounting upon it, he
firft imitated the Laconiin Meafures, then
danc'd after the Athenian manner ; and lad of
all fitting his Head upon the Table, and erect-
ing his Feet, he mov'd his Legs in fuch Fof-
rures, as he had already practis'd with his
Hands* Tho' the firft and fecond of thtfe
Dances
Book VI. ERATO. 141
Dances had fufficiently difTuaded CUfthenes from
chufing a Son-inl.aw of fo much profligate
Impudence; yet he contain'd himfeif, and would
not break out into an open PafTion. But when
he faw him endeavouring with his Legs to
imitate the A6lions of his Hands, he Joft all
Patience, and cried out, <' O Son of Tifander
" thou haft danc'd away thy Marriage." The
other anfwer'd, *' That is not the care of Hip-
'' poclides.'* "Which Saying afcerwards obtain'd
the Authority of a Proverb. Then Clijihenes ha-
ving commanded Silence, fpoke to thofe who
pretended to his Daughter, in thefe Words :
" I commend you all, and am willing to gratify
t' you all, if I could ; without diftinguifliing
'' any one in particular, to the Difadvantage
" of the reft. But becaufe I have no more
«' than one Daughter, and confequently can-
" not comply with the Defires of fo many
" Perfons, I give a Talent of Silver to every
" one of thofe who fhall be excluded •, as well
" in acknowledgment of your Readinefs to en-
" ter into my Family by this Match, as of the
'' lime you have fpent in a long Abfence from
" your Habitations; and I give my Daughter
" Agarijla to Megacles the Son of Alcmceon^ to be
" his Wife under the Coaditions and Ufages of
*' the Athenians." Megacles immediately de-
clar'd his Confent, and the Nuptials were cele-
brated in the Houfe of CUfthenes, Thus the Dif-
pute fo long depending between thefe Rivals
was determin'd, and the Alcma^onides became
famous in Greece. Of this Marriage was born a
Son nam'd CUfthenes from the Father of his
Mother. He divided the Athenians into Tribes
and eftablifh'd the Democratical Government.
Megacles
142 HERODOTUS.
Megacles had alfo another Son nam'd Hippocrates
who was the Father of another Megacles^ and
of another Jgarifta^ Co call'd from the Daughter
of Clifthenes. This Jgarifta being afterwards
married to Xanthippus the Son of Ariphron^ and
big with Child, dreamt (he had brought forth
a Lyon, and within few Days was deliver'd of
Pericles.
MILTUDES having by his Succefs at
Marathon acquir'd a much greater Reputation in
Athens than he had before, demanded feventy
Ships of the Athenians, with Men and Money
proportionable ; in order to undertake an Ex-
pedition, which he kept private ; and only told
them, that if they would follow him, he would
put them into polTefiion of great Riches j and
lead them into a Country, from whence they
fhould bring home Gold in abundance without
Difficulty. The Athenians accepting the Pro-
pofition with Joy, prepar'd the Ships according-
ly : And when Miltiades h:id receiv'd all things
neceflary to his Enterprize, he fet fail for Paros ;
under Colour that the Parians had aflifted the
Perfians with their Ships in the Expedition to
Marathon. But the Truth is, he was incens'd
againft the Parians becaufe Lyfagoras the Son
of ^ifeus., a Man of Parian Extradlion, had
fpoken ill of him to Hydarnes the Perfian. When
Miltiades arrived at Paros^ he befieg'd the City,
and fending in his Heralds, demanded a hundred
Talents of the Parians •, threatning, in cafe of
Refufal, not to draw off his Army before he
had taken the Place. But the Parians refufing
to deliberate whether they fhould give Money
to Miltiades^ applied themfelves wholly to con-
trive by what means they might defend the
4 City V
Book VI. ERATO. 143
City ; repairing their Fortifications in divers
Places, and working in the Night, till they had
made their Walls doubly higher than before
in that Part where they were leafl: defenfible.
Thus far all the Grecians agree in their Re-
port: The reft, as the Parians fay, pafs'd in
this manner. When Miltiades faw all his Mea-
fures broken, one Timo, a Woman of Paros^
Subprieftefs of the National Gods, and then his
Prifoner, came to him and counfel'd him, if
he valued the taking of ParoSy to do as fhe
fhould advife. Miltiades having heard her Pro-
pofal, went diredly to the Inclofure of the
Temple dedicated to Ceres the Legiflatrefs,
without the City j and after he had endea-
vour'd in vain to open the Gate, he mounted
the Wall, and leap'd down, with a Defign to
enter the facred Place, in order to do fome-
thing, or to move fomething, which ought
not to have been mov'd. But while he flood
before the Doors, he was feiz'd with a fud-"^
denHorrour; and rcfolving to return, leap'd
back again from the fame Place, and broke his
Thigh, tho' fome fay he fell upon his Knee.
Thus Miltiades having neither obtain^ the
Money he demanded, nor taken Paros^ re-
turn*d to Athens with Difgrace, after he had
ravag'd the Country, and befieg'd the City
twenty fix Days. When the Siege was raised,
the Parians being inform'd of the Counfel
which Timo had given to Miltiades^ and defi-
ning to bring her to Juftice, fent Deputies to
inquire of the Oracle at Delphi, whether
they fhould punifh her with Death, for endea-
vouiing 0 betray the City to the Enemy, and
aifcovering the facred Myfleries to Miltiades^
which
144 HERODOTUS.
which ought not to be reveal'd to any Man.
But the Pythian not permitting them to do as
they defir'd, affirm'd that Timo was not the Au-
thor of that Advice ; and that the Gods having
determin'd the Deftrudlion of Miltiades^ had
only made her the Inflrument of his Death.
This Anfwer the Pythian gave to the Parians.
WHEN Miltiades was return*d to Athens^
many of the Athenians were incens'd againft
him, and none more than Xantbippus the Son
of Ariphron^ who accus'd him to the People
for deceiving the Athenians, and defir'd he
might be punifh'd wich Death. Miltiades could
not be prefent to defend himfelf, becaufe his
Thigh beginning to mortify, render'd him un-
able to move from his Bed. But his Friends ap-
pearing for him, alledg*d in his Favour the
Ad:ions he perform'd at Marathon *, together
with the Acquifition of hemnos ; which Milti'
ades reduc'd under the Dominion of Athens^
after he had expell'd the Pelafgians for the In-
juries they had done to the Athenians. Thefe
Allegations prevail'd fo far with the People,
that they would not fentence him to Death*,
butfin'dhim fifty Talents for his Crime. Soon
after which, Miltiades ended his Life by the
Putrefadion and Mortification of his Thigh ;
and his Son Cymoft paid his Fine. As for LemnoSy
Miltiades took poflefTion of that Ifland, on the
following Occafion. The Pelafgians had been
already driven out of Attica by the Athe-
nians j whether juftly or unjuftly I fhall not
determine , having nothing more to fay than
what is reported on both fides. Hecatceus^
the Son of Hegefander^ affirms they were un-
juftly expell'd. For, fays he, when the Athe-
3 nians
BookVI. ERATO. 145
nians faw that the Lands about i^)!^^?^;, which
they had given to the Pelafgians in Payment
for the Wall they had built about the Acropolis^
were improv'd from a barren and unprofitable
Soil, into a fertil and well cultivated Region,
they grew envious of their Profpcrity ; and
coveting to refume the Country, drove out the
Pelafgians without any other Pretence what-
ever. On the other hand the Athenians af-
firm, that they were juftly ejeded on account
of the Injuries they had done. For they faw
that while the Pelafagians continued to inhabit
under Mount H'^meJJus^ they frequently left
their Habitations, and in Contempt of the
Athenians offer'd Violence to their Sons and
Daughters who were fent for Water to the place
call*d the Nine Fountains \ becaufe in thofe times
neither they nor any other People of Greece
were furnifli'd with Slaves : That the Pelafgi-
ans not contented with thefe Attempts, were
atlaft manifeftly detedled tohaveform'd a De-
fign againft Athens % and that the Athenians, 10
Ihew themfelves as generous as the others had
been bafe, when they had the Power of punifh-
ing thefe Offenders for their manifeft Treachery,
chofe rather to command them only to depart
the Country : Which the Pelafgians obey-
ing poffefs'd themfelves of Lemnos^ and other
Places. Thus HecatcBUs relates this Occurrence
in one manner, and the Athenians in another.
But thofe Pelafgians who inhabited Lemnos^
defiring to be reveng'd, and knowing all the
Feftival Days of the Athenians, fitted out
feme Gallics of fifty Oars each ; and having
laid an Ambufcade for their Wives as they
celebrated the Feaft of Diana in Brauron^
Vol. II. K they
146 HERODOruS.
they furpriz*d a great Number •, carried them
away to LemnoSy and kept them for Concubines.
Thefe Women abounding in Children, taught
their Sons the Language of Attica, and Man-
ners of the Athenians : By which means they
not only refus'd to converfe with the Sons of
the Pelafgian Women; but if any one of their
Number was actack'd, they all immediately
ran to his AlTillance, and reveng'd the Injury.
Thus thinking themfelves worthy to command
the Sons of the Pelafgians, they eafily became
their Mafters. When the Pelafgians were in-
formed of thefe things, they confulced toge-
ther V and judging fuch Arrogance infupport-
able, drew this Confequence : If, faid they,
at thefe Years they have learn'd to defend one
another, and conftantly endeavour'd to ufurp
a Superiority over the Children of our legi-
timate Wives; what v;ill they not do, when
they attain the Age of Men ? Which Thought
made fo deep an ImprefTion in the Minds of
the Pelafgians, that they refolv'd to murder the
Children they had by the Vv^omen of Attica\
and, to compleat their Cruelty, difpatch'd the
Moth-ers after them. From this atrocious
Crime, and that which was perpetrated before
by thofe Women, who v/ith the Afliftance of
Thoas kiird their Hufbands, all enormous Ac-
tions pafs among the Grecians under the Name
of Lemnian. But the Pelafgians, afcer the
Murder of thefe Children with their Mothers,
perceiving their Lands to become barren, their
Wives unfruitful, and their Flocks not to yield
the ufual Increafe •, tormented with Famine,
and deftitute of Children, fent to Delphi, in
order to be inform'd by what means they might
be
Book VI. ERATO. 147
be deliver'd from thefe Calamities ; And be»
\[\a admonifh'd by the Pythian to give Satisfadi-
on to the Athenians in the manner they fhould
defire, they went to Athens^ and profefs'd them-
felves ready to fuffer any Punifhment they fhould
think fit to impole on account of the Injuries
they had receiv'd. The Athenians having
heard their Offer, prepared a magnificent Feaft
in the Pr'jtaneum ; and when they faw the table
furniih'd with all kind of Provifions, they com-
manded the Pelafgians to furrender their Coun-
try, in as good a Condition. To which they
anfwer'd, " That they would obey, when the
*' North Wind fhould carry a Ship in one Day
t' from the Territories of the Athenians to
" their IQand :" Well knowing the thing to be
impoflible, becaufe Attica is fiiuate much more
to the Southward than Lemnos, But many
Years after they had given this Anfvver, when
the Hellefpontin Cherfonefus became fubjedt to
the Athenians, Milttades the Son of C'jmon ha-
ving imbark'd at Eleus^ a City on the Hellefpnt
was carried by a flrong Etefian Wind in one
D^y to Lemnos ; and immediately commanding
the Pelafgians to depart out of the IQand, re-
minded them of their folemn Promife, which
they hop'd never to fee accomplifli'd. The
Heph^ftians obey'd the Order of Milttades ;
But the Myrinseans, not acknowledging Cherfo'
nefus to belong to Attica, fuftain'd a Siege, till
they were compell'd to furrender. And in this
manner Lemnos was reduc'd by Miltiades un*
der the Power of the Athenians.
K2 THE
[ 149 1
THE
Hiftory of Herodotus.
BOOK VII.
P 0 L Y M N I A.
WHEN Barlus the Son of Hyftafpes had
receiv'd the News of the Battle fought
at Marathon^ he became much more incens'd
againft the Athenians, than he had been be-
fore for the Invafion of Sardis^ and much more
diligent in his Preparations to carry on the
War againft Greece. He difpatch'd Meflages
to the feveral Cities of his Dominions, enjoin*
ing every one in particular to raife a greater
Number ot Forces than ever, fufficiently fur-
nifh'd with Horfes, Ships, and all manner of
Provifions. Thefe Commands of the King
put all Afta into a Ferment during the Space
of three Years. But in the fourth Year, when
the belt of his Forces were aflembled, in order
to invade Greece ; the ^Egyptians, who had
been fubdued by Cambyfes^ revolted from the
Perfians. So that Darius being irritated aC
once againft the Grecians and ^Egyptians, re-
folv'd to make War againft both. But when
he had prepar'd all things for his Expedition
to Greece and jEgypt^ a great Conteft arofe be--
tween his Sons concerning the Succeflion of
the kingdom : For by the Cuftoms of Per/ja
the King is oblig'd to nominate his SuccefTor,
K 3 before
I50 HERODOTUS.
before he departs to put himfelf at the Head of
the Army. Darius had three Sons by the Daugh-
ter of Gobryas, his firft Wife ; all born before
he was King : And after his Succefiion to the
Throne, he had four more by Jlojfa the Daugh-
ter of Cyrus, Of the firft, Artabazanes was the
elded: Of the latter, Xerxes: And thefe two
being born of different Mothers, were Com-
petitors for the Succeflion. Artabazanes urgM
that he was the eldefb of all the Sons of Darius^
and that by the Cuftoms of all Nations the el-
deft Son had a Right to the Kingdom : On the
other hand, Xerxes alledg'd, that he was the
Son of Atojfa the Daughter of Cyrus^ who had
delivered the Perfians from Servitude. Darius
had not yet declar'd himfelf in favour of ei-
ther, when Demaratus the Son of Arijlon^ who
had been depriv'd of the Kingdom of Sparta^
and arrived at Sufa about that time, hearing
of this Difpute between the Sons of Darius^
went to Xerxes^ as I am inform'd, and counfell'd
him to add thefe Reafons to his Defence : That
he was born after Darius had obtain'd the
Kingdom, with all the Dominions of Perfia ;
whereas Artabazanes was only Son of Darius a
private Man ; and confequently, to let ano-
ther enjoy the Advantages that belong'd to him
would be contrary to the Rules of Equity and
Juftice ; and that by the Laws of Sparta^ all
Children born before their Father was invefled
with the Royal Dignity, were excluded from
the SuccefTion, if he had any Son to fucceed
him, born after that time. Thefe Reafons
having been produced by Xerxes at the Suggefti-
on of Demaratus i appear'd fo juft to Darius^ that
he declar'd him King, But 1 am inclin'd to
I believe.
BookVir, POLTMNIA. 151
believe, chat without this Advice, Xerxes would
have been King ; becaufe the Authority of
Atoffa was too great to be refifted. When Da-
rius had nominated Xerxes to fucceed him and
firmly refolv'd to purfae his intended Enter-
prizes, he died, in the fecond Year of the Re-
volt of Mg'jpU afcer he had reign'd thirty fix
Years ; and had not the Satisfadion of execu-
ting his Defigns either againft the -/Egyptians or
Athenians.
XE R XES the Son of D^mj fucceed ing him
in the Kingdom, fhew'd little Difpofition ac
firft to make War againft Greece^ and bent his
Thoughts wholly upon the Redudlion of ^gypt.
But Mardonius the Son of Gohryas by the Sifter
of Darius^ and confequently Coufin German
to Xerxes.^ in confidence of the Authority
he had with the King, fpoke to him on
that Subject to this EfFed ; '« SIR, if you
*' fuffer the Athenians to go unpunifh'd, after
*« all the Mifchiefs they have done to the Perfi-
*' ans, we (hall be difhonour'd. However, ac
" prefent finifli the Enterprize you have begun ;
" and when you (hall fee the Infolence of the
" Egyptians humbled, lead your Army againft:
*' Athens ; that all Men may fpeak of you with
*' Honour, and no Nation for the future may
" dare to attack any of your Dominions.'*
To this Difcourfe, hitherto tending only to
Revenge, he added. That Europe was a beau-
tiful Country ♦, abounding in delicious Fruits,
and Men of invincible Courage : In a word,
too excellent to be pofTefs'd by any other
than the greateft of Kings. Now, tho' his
own youthful Ambition, and a violent Defire
to fee himfelf made Governour of Greece^
K 4 were
152 HERODOTUS.
were the principal Motives he had to give this
Counfel ; yet he at laft prevail'd with Xerxes
to db as he advis'd ; and was not a little affifted
in his Defign by a favourable Conjundure.
For about that time the Aleuadian Kings of
Thejfaly fent AmbafTadors to Xerxes, with Or-
ders to folicic him to invade Greece^ and to
promife him all manner of Afliftance on their
Part. The Pififtratides likewife, then in Exile
AiSufa^ us'd the fame Perfuafions ; and in order
to compafs their Defign, produc'd a certain
Athenian nam'd Onomacritus^ who, they fa id,
could interpret Oracles, and explain the Divi-
nations of MufcBUS, This Man was reconcil'd
to them before their Arrival in Perfta^ but had
been formerly their Enemy. For he was firft ba-
nifh'd from Athens by Hipparchus the Son of Pifif-
iratusy upon the Difcovery of Lafus the Son of
HermiofiiWho furpriz'd him in the very Fad of in-
ferting a fuppofititious Oracle among thofe of
Mu/^us^ importing, that the Klsindssibout Lemnos
fhould be fwallow'd up by the Sea : and on that
account Hipparchus expell d him out of Athens^
after he had us'd his Converfation with great
Familiarity. This 0;/o/«^^n7^i having accompa-
nied the Pififtratides to Sufa^ was recommended
by them to the King as an extraordinary Per-
fon ; and being introduced into his Prefence, re-
cited fome of his Oracles ; always remem-
bring to fupprefs thofe that foretold any Difaf-
ter to the Barbarians, and producing only fuch
as were favourable to their Affairs. Among
thofe of the laft Sort, he repeated one, which
foretold that a Bridge Ihould be laid over the
Hellefpont by a Perfian ; and defcended to all the
Circumftances belonging to that Enterprize.
Thus
Book VII. POLTMNIA 1^3
Thus Xerxes, partly on the Hopes he conceiv'd
from thefe illafory Oracles, and partly at the
Inftigation of the Pififtratides and Aleuadians,
determined to make War againft Greece. Ne-
verthelefs, in the firft place, and in the fecond
Yeax after the Death of Darius, having aflem-
bled an Army, in order to punifli the revolted
^Egyptians, he reduc'd all ^gypt to a worfe
Condition of Servitude than they had felt under
his Father, and gave the Government of that
Country to his Brother Achamenes the Son of
Darius \ who was afterwards kill'd by Inarus
the Son of Pfammitlchus^ a Lybian. When
Xerxes\i2id thus vtcovti'dyEgjpt, and was about
to prepare all things for his Expedition againft
Athens, he fummon'd a Council of the principal
Perfians, as well to hear their Opinions, as to
declare his own , and after they were all afTem-
bled^ fpoke to this effed : " I will not, O Per-
«' fians, be the Author of new Inftitutions,
*« but ihall adl in Conformity to thofe I have
** received. For I am inftrudled by Men of
" elder Years, that from the time we wrefted
*« the Power out of the hands of the Medes,
*« and C'^rus dethron'd Aflyages^ we never liv'd
" an inglorious, unadlive Life 5 but by follow-
*« ing the Hand of God, which was our Guide,
" we have attained to a great meafure of Prof-
*' perity. The Adtions perform'd by Cyrus^
" by Cambyfesy and by my Father Darius, to-
*' gether with the Nations they conquer'd ,
** are too well known to you to need a Re-
" petition. As for me, fince I took PoflTef-
** fion of the Throne, my principal Care has
" been not to fall fhort of my Predeceflbrs in
<« Glory, and to acquire as great a Proportion
*'of
1^4 HERODOTUS.
«* of Power to the Perfians. Revolving thefe
*' Thoughts in my Mind, I am perfuaded ,
«' we may at once obtain a glorious Name,
*' with the Conqueft of a Country not infe-
«' rior to that we now pofTefs, but rather
*' more abounding in all things ; and at the
*' fame time revenge the Injuries we have re*
*' ceiv'd. To this end therefore I have called
*« you together, and ihall acquaint you with
*' the Enterprize I have form'd. I defign to
*' lay a Bridge over the Hellefpont^ and to
*' tranfport an Army by the way of Europe in-
*« to Greece^ that I may punifh the Athenians
*' for the Injuries they have done to the Per-
" fians and to my Father. You know Darius
" had determin'd to make War againft thofe
*« Men, but Death prevented him from execu-
«' ting his Defign. I refolve therefore to do Juf-
*« tice to my Father and the Perfians, and not to
*^ lay down my Arms, till I have taken and
*' burnt Athens^ whofe Citizens were the firft
t« AggrefTors in this War againft me and my Fa-
*^ ther. For before any Violence had been done
«' on either fide, they invaded Sardis, in con-
" jun6lion with Arifiagoras the Milefian, our
'' Servant ; and burnt down the Sacred Groves
*' with the Temples. And how they treated
<« you, when you made a Defcent into their
*^ Territories under the Conduft of Datis and
«< Artapheryies^ is fufEciently known to you all.
«' Thefe things have excited in me an ardent
<« defire to invade their Country with Fire and
«' Sword : being affufd, and not without good
<< reafon, that if we can fubdue the Athe-
*' nians, with their Neighbours, who inhabit
" the Counttry of Fdops the Phrygian, the Per-
<« fian
Book VII. POLTMNIA. 155
*« fian Dominions will be bounded by no o-
<< ther Limits than the Heavens , and the Sun
'< fhall not behold any Region diftinguifh'd
*' from us, or exempted from our Obedience.
<' For I intend, with your Concurrence, to
" march thro' ail the Parts of Europe^ and
«« to reduce the whole Earth into one Empire ;
«' being well inform'd, that no City or Nation
<« of the World will dare refift my Arms, af-
<' ter the Redudlion of thofe I have men-
*' tion'd. And thus, not only the Guilty, but
*' likewife thofe who have not at all offended
<« us, muftequally fubmit to the YokeofServi-
tt tude. If then you will gratify my Defires,
'* prepare all things necefiary for this Expedi-
<' tion, that you may be ready to attend me ac
«' the time I fhall appoint. And I now pro-
*' mife, that he who fhall appear at the head of
*' the beft Troops, (hall be rewarded by me^
« in the manner he fhall judge moft honou-
" rable. But left I fhould feem to impoie my
«' own Sentiments upon you, I defire you to
^' debate the matter, and deliver your Opini-
*c ons with Freedom." After Xerxes had fi-
nifh'd thefe Words, Mardonius rofe up, and
faid : «' SIR, You are not only the m.oft excei-
*' lent of all the Perfians that have liv'd before
*' your Time, but likewife of all that fhall
" be born in future Ages. And as in other
*' things you have fpoken moft judicioufly and
*< truly, fo you have rightly determin'd, no
*' longer to fuffer the European lonlans to infulc
«' the Perfians, who ought not to be the Ob-
*' jcdts of their Contempt. For wnat greater
*' Indignity can be imagin'd, than if, after we
*' have conquer'd the Saces, Indians, ^thiopi-
" ans
1^6 HERODOTUS.
" ans and AfTyrians, with many other power-
*' ful Nations, which never offer'd to do us
** any Wrong, in order only to enlarge our Do-
" minions, we (hould fuffer the Grecians to
«' go unpunifh'd, who have firft provok'd us
*' by their injurious Attempts? Of what are
*' we afraid? What Forces, what Treafures
** have they ? We know their Manner of fight-
«t ing ; and we are no lefs inform'd of the
" Paucity of their Numbers. Befides, we have
«' already fubdued their Defcendants the loni-
*' nians, ^olians and Dorians, who inhabit
*' within our Territories. I learnt by Expe-
*' rience what they are, when I was command-
*< ed by your Father to make War againft
*' them. I penetrated into Macedonia^ and ad-
** vanc'd almoft to Athens ; yet no Man had
« the Courage to oppofe my Paflfage. The Gre-
*« cians, as I am inform'd, are accuftomed to
t« take up Arms rafhly, and manage their Wars
<* without Art or Knowledge. For when they
*' have declar'd War againft one another, they
*' march into the moft open Plain they can find,
*' and fight a Battle*, in which the Conquerors
«' never go away without great Lofs *, and the
*' Conquer'd, to fay all at once, are cut in
*< pieces. Whereas being of the fame Lan-
*' guage, they ought rather to adjuft their Dif-
" ferences by Ambaffadors, and try all ways
<' of Accommodation, before they have Re-
** courfe to Arms: Or if thefe Means prove
*' inefFedual, they ought at leaft to poll them-
" felves in Places of difficult Accefs, not eafily
" penetrable on either fide. Yet thefe very
** Men, tho' accuftom'd to this ill Method,
«* never ventur'd co entertain a Thought of
*' fighting
Book VII. P O LTM N 1 A. 157
«' fighting during all the time I continued in
" Macedonia. How then (hall they dare to refill
" you, attended by all the Forces and Ships of
*' Afia? For my own part, I cannot imagine
*' that the Grecians will ever proceed to fuch a
" Degree of Audacioufiiefs. But if I fhould
*« happen to bedeceiv'd, and they fhould be fo
*' ill advis'd to appear in Arms againft us, they
«' muft learn by a dear- bought Experience, that
*« we know more of military Affairs than all
*' other Men of the World. However, let us
*' try the Experiment : For nothing moves with-
*^ out a Caufe, but all things are accomplifh'd
" by Labour and Induftry." When Mardomns
had thus flatter'd the Inclinations of Xerxes by a
courtly AlTentation, and the reft of the Perfians
continued filent, becaufe they would not venture
to propofe a contrary Opinion, Artahanus the
Son of Hydafpes^ and Uncle to Xerxes^ in con-
fidence of his Dignity, delivered his Sentiments
in the following Terms : "SIR, faid he, un-
<' lefs Men will hear different Opinions, they
«' can never chufc themoft advantageous, but lie
«' under a Neceflity of following that which is
«' firft proposed. Whereas when various and
*« contrary Opinions have been heard. Men are
<« enabled to difcern the beft Counfels; as they
« diftinguifh the pureft Gold, by Comparifon
*« with that which contains a greater Quantity
«* of Allay. I endeavour'd to diffuade Darius
your Father and my Brother, from making
War againft Scyibia^ a Country deftitute of
Cities in any Part: But he hoping to conquer
the Scythians, reje<5led my Advice, undertook
that Expedition; and after he had loft the beft
*^ of his Forces, was compell'd to retire with
*« the
C(
158 HERODOTUS.
«« the reft. You are now difpofing all things to
*' attack a much braver Nation than the Scy-
^' thians; Men, who have dillinguifh'd therii-
«' felves with Glory both by Sea and Land : and
'« therefore I think my felf oblig'd to inform you
*« of the Dangers that attend your Enterprize.
Errors, which for the moft part are attended
«-' with
\
i^o HERODOrUS.
«« with pernicious Confequences. But many
*« Advantages flow from deliberate Coun-
«' fels •, perhaps not prefently apparent, yet
<^ moft certainly enfuing afterwards. This, O
*' King, is the Advice I would perfuade you
*« topurfue: And as for thee, MWo«/«j, thou
*« Son of Gohryas, ceafe to talk impertinently
«« of the Grecians; becaufe they are no way
«' fit to be contemn'd. By unjaft Detradion
*< you endeavour to engage the King to make
«« War againft them ♦, and, in my Opinion,
*^ have ftrenuoufly exerted your Efforts that
«« way. But I hope fuch Methods (hall not
«« prevail. For Calumny is a deteftable thing,
«' as it is a Combination of two againft one :
«« Becaufe he who calumniates another, does him
*' an Injury in his Abfence: And he who be-
'* lieves the Calumny, is no lefs unjuft, in gi-
•« ving his AfTent to the Accufation, before he
*' is duly informed. In a word, the abfent
" Perfon receives a double Injury ; being falfly
*' accus'd by one, and unjuftly condemn'd by
*' the other. But, Mardomus, if nothing can
" difTuade you from making War againft the
" Grecians, let the King continue in Perfia
" and our Children be depofited in his hands:
*< Then go on with your Expedition, accom-
♦' panied by the beft Forces you can chufe,
«' and in what Numbers you think fit : And
«' if things fucceed in the manner you have
'* fuggefted to the King, I will be content-
*« ed to forfeit my own Life, and the Lives
** of my Children. But if, on the contrary,
«' the Event be fuch as I have foretold, then
*' let your Children fuffer Death, and you al-
«^ (o if ever you return. If you refufe to ac-
4 '' cept
Book VII. POLTMNiJ. i6i
«' cepc thefe Conditions, and obdinately re-
ti folve to lead an Army into Greece^ I venture
:es from invading Greece ? But know,
*' that thou fli;ilc not with Impunity contemn
'' the Decrees of Fate, either now or in time
" to come : And as for Xerxes^ he is fuffici-
" ently admonifh'd of the Calamities he dial!
^« fuffer upon his Difobedience.'* Artahanus
terrified with thefe Menaces, and obferving in
his Dream that the Apparition advanc'd to burn
out his Eyes with a hot Iron, leap'd out of
B'^d with loud Exclamations, and went im-
mediatfly to Xerxes ; where, after he had related
all the Particulars of the Vifion he had feen, he
fpoke to him in this manner ; " Having learnt
'' by Experience that the greateft Powers have
A been frequently overthrown by fmall Forces,
" I delivered my Opinion as a Man ; and
f was unwilling ro fee you tranfported by
" the violent Padions incident to your Age;
*' well under ftanding the Dangers that at-
** tend a boundlefs Ambition. I call'd to
«! mind the F'prtune of that Army which Cyus,
M ied
Book VII. POLTMNIA. 167
« led againfl the MelTdgetes ; the Expedition
«' of Cainhjfes againft the Ethiopians ; and
*' the Invafion of Scytbia, in which I accom-
<< pained your Father Darius. From theCon-
" fideration of thefe Misfortunes, I concluded
<« you to be the mod happy of all Men, if
<« you would live in Peace. But fmce you are
<« mov'd by a divine Impulfe, and fome great
" Difafter decreed by Heaven, feems ready to
<•• fall upon the Grecians, I change my Opinion
*' and fhall contend no longer : Your Pare
" therefore will be, to inform the Perfians of
<' this divine MefTage, and to command them
<« to go on with their Preparations for War,
t' according to your former Orders ; that no-
" thing of human AlTiftance may be wanting
«' to fecond the Favour of the Gods." When
he had iaid thefe Words, and both had deter-
min'd to place an entire Confidence in the Vifi-
on ; Xerxes early the next Morning acquainted
the Perfians with what had happen'd, and y^r-
tahanus^ the only Man who had openly difap-
prov*d the Expedition, now appear'd moft zea-
lous to promote it.
I N the mean time Xerxes having refolv'd to
put himfelf at the Head of his Army, had ano-
ther Dream ; which the Magi interpreted to
relate to the whole World, and to fignify that
all Mankind fhould be reduc'd under his Power,
For the King dreamt he faw himfelf crown'd
with Twigs taken from an Olive-tree, which
extended its Branches over all the Earth •, and
that afterwards this Crown difappear'd from
about his Head, Upon this Interpretation of
the Magi, the Perfians who v/ere then aflem-
bled in Council, departed immediately to their
JU 4 feveral
i68 HERODOTUS.
feveral Governments, and with the utmofl: Di-
ligence applied themfelves to execute the King's
Orders *, every Man hoping to obtain the Re-
compence he had promis'd. AIJ the Regions
of the Continent were fearch'd, in order to
compofe this Army. For from the time of
the Redaction of ^gypl, four whole Years
were fpent in alTembling thefe Forces, and pro-
viding all things necelTary for this Expediti-
on. In the fifth Year Xerxes began his March
with an incredible Number of Men. For
this Army was fo much greater than all others.
we ever heard of; that neither the Forces led
by Darius againft the Scythians ; nor the Scy-
thian Army, which entring Media in Purfuit of
the Cimmerians, fubdued almoft all the upper
Afia^ and occafion'd the fucceeding Attempt of
Darius \ nor that which under the Condudl of
the Atrides march'd, as we are told, to the
Siege of ^roy \ nor the joint Forces of the
My funs and Tcucrians, who before the Tro-
jan War, pafs'd over the Bofphorus into Europe^
fubdu'd all Jhrace, and advancing to the Ionian
Sea, penetrated to the Southward as far as the
River Peneus: In a word, not all thefe Armies
in Conjun6lion, even tho' we fhould add divers
others, were to be compar'd with this one
of Xerxes. For what People of j^fta did he
exempt from fending Men to this Expedition
againll Greece ? What Waters, except thofe
of great Rivers, were unexhaufted by his nu-
merous Forces ? Some Nations he commanded
to fit out Ships ; others were order'd to furnidi
Horfe, and others Foot : Some were oblig'd to
build VefTels for the Tranfportation of Horfe ;
others to prepare long Barks for Bridges, and
fome
Book VII. POLTMNIA. 169
fome to furnifh Corn, with Ships to tranfport
it. Three Years had been fpent about Mount A-
thos^ in contriving to prevent the like Difafter
with that which befel the Perfians formerly on
that Coaft. Their Ships had been order'd to
the Port of Eleus^ in the Cherfonefus *, and all the
Forces on board were compeird by Turns to
dig, and open a Paflage thro' the Mountain.
The adjoining Inhabitants aflifted them -, and
Buharis the Son of Megahyzus, with ArtachiBus
the Son of Artceus^ both Perfians, were the Di-
redlors of this Enterprize. Athos is a Moun-
tain of great Fame and Magnitude, leaning
upon the Sea, and well inhabited. It termi-
nates to the Landward in the Form of a Pen-
infula, and makes an Ifthmus of about twelve
Scades in Length ; containing a Plain with fome
Mixture of little Hills, from the Coaft of
Acanthus to that of Torone. On this Ifthmus,
which lies at the Foot of Mount Athos y ftands
Sana 2l Grecian City : But Xerxes determin'd to
cut off from the Continent all the other Cities,
which being built upon the Mountain, and be-
yond this Place, were Dion^ Olophyxus^ Acrothoon
Thyfus and Cleone. The Operation was car-
ried on in this manner. The Barbarians ha-
ving drawn a Line before the City of Sana^
divided the Ground among the feveral Na-
tions: And when the Trench was confiderably
funk, thofe who were in the Bottom conti-
nued to dig, and deliver'd the Earth to Men
Handing upon Ladders , who handed the
fame again to fuch as were plac'd in a high-
er Station, till at laft others who waited
to receive the Burden at the Edge of the
Cdnal, carried it away to another Place. But
by
I70 HERODOTUS.
by ciigging in a perpendicular manner, and
making the Bottom of equal Breadth with the
Top, all the Workmen, except the Phoenicians,
drew a double Labour upon themfelves •, be-
caufe the Earth, as is natural, fell down con-
tinually in great Quantity from the upper Parts.
The Phoenicians alone fhew'd that Ability
on this Occafion, of which they are fo much
Mailers at all times: For they open'd the Part
which was afTign'd to their Care, twice as
large as others had done •, and (loping the
Ground gradually till they came to the Bot-
tom, they then found the Meafure equal with
the reft. In the Meadow adjoining to this Place
they had a Court of Juftice, and a Market
furnidi'd with great Abundance of Corn brought
even from Afia, My Conjedlures lead me to
think, that Xerxes undertook this Enterprize
upon a Motive of Oftentation, in order to
Ihew the Greatnefs of his Power, and to per-
petuate the Memory of his Name. For the*
he might have caus'd his Fleet to be con-
vey'd over the Land without much Difficulty ;
yet he would rather command the Ifthmus to
be cut, and a Canal to be made to receive
the Sea, of fuch a Breadth as might be fuffi-
cient to carry two Ships failing in front.
He likewife order'd the fame Men, who had
been employ'd in this Work, to lay a Bridge
over the River Slrymon *, and commanded all
manner of Cordage, and Scores necefTary for
Bridges, to be prepar'd with expedition. He
IfTued Orders to the Phcsnicians and ^Egyptians
to take in Provifions for the Army, that nothing
might be wanting either for the Men or the
Cattle, which were to be tranfported into Greece:
And
Book VII. POLTMNIA. 171
And having fully enquir'd into the Nature of
each Country, he ordered every thing to be
brought from the moft proper places of Jfia^
in Ships of great Burden, contriv'd on pur-
pofefor Tranfportation. Ofthefe Provifions
the greater Quantity was carried to that Pare
of 'Thrace^ which goes by the Name of the
White Coaft. The reft was order'd to Tyrodiza
of the Perinthians •, to Dorifcus \ to Eion u^-
on the Sirymon, and to Macedonia. While thefe
Men were employed in executing the Injunc-
tions they had receiv'd, Xerxes having aflfem-
bled his Army, parted from Critale in Cappa-
docia^ and march'd to Sardis ; which was the
Place appointed for the Rendezvous of all the
Forces that were to accompany him from the
Continent. But I cannot affirm who was the
General that receiv'd the Rewards promis*d
by the King, for bringing the bed Troops in-
tothe Field ; being altogether uninform'd whe-
ther this Queftion were ever brought into
Difpute. When the Army had pafs'd the Ri-
ver Halys^ they march'd thro' Phrygia, and ar-
rived at Celine where rife the Springs of the
Meander^ and of another River no lefs confi-
derable, call'd ihtCataraSfs ; which, beginning in
themidft of the Place, flows afterwards into the
Meander: And where, if we may believe the
Phrygians, the Skin of Marfias the Satyr is feen,
pull'd off and hung up there by Apollo. Pythius
the Son of Atys^ a Lydian, then refiding in Ce-
Icsne, entertain'd the King and all his Army with
great Magnificence, and offer'd him his Trea-
fures towards the Expence of the War : Which
Liberality Xerxes communicating to the Perfians
^bout him, and afking, Who this Pythius was,
and
172 H E R 0 D 0 r V S.
and what Riches he might have to enable
him to make fuch an Offer, receiv'd this An-
fwer : " Pythius, faid they, is the Perfon, who
<« prefcnted your Father Darius with aPlane-
«' tree and Vine of Gold : And, after you, is
«« the richeft Man we know in the World**
Xerxes y furpriz'd with thefe laft Words, ask*d
him, to what fum his Treafures might amount.
*' I (liall conceal nothing from you, faid Py-
•' tbkis, nor pretend to be ignorant of my own
Wealth ; but being perfectly inform'd of the
State of my Accounts, fhall tell you the
" Truth with Sincerity. When I heard you
*« were ready to begin your March towards
the Grecian Sea, I refolv'd to prefent you
with a fum of Money towards the Charge
" of the War; and to that end having taken
** an Account of my Riches, I found by Com-
*' puration that I had two thoufand Talents
«' of Silver, and three millions nine hundred
'' ninety three thoufand Pieces of Gold, bear-
" ing the Scamp of Darius. Thefe Treafures
I freely give you, becaufe I fhall be fuffi-
ciently furnifh'd with whatever is neceffary
to Life by the Labour of my Servants and
Husbandmen." Xerxes heard thefe Words
with pleafure, and in anfwer to PythiuSy faid ;
«* My Lydian Hoft, fmce I parted from Sufa,
*' I have not found a Man befides yourfelf, who
** has ofFer'd to entertain my Armv, or volun-
tarily to contribute his Treafures to promote
the prefent Expedition. You alone have
treated my Army magnificently, and readily
ofFer'd me immenle Riches: Therefore in
" return of your Kindnefs, J make you my
'* Hoft •, and that you may be Mafler of the
*' entire
cc
iC
cc
cc
cc
cc
cc
cc
Book VII. POLTMNIJ. 173
" entire Sum of four Millions of Gold, I will
« give you feven thoufand Darien Pieces out of
a my own Treafure. Keep then all the Riches
t< you now poflels *, and if you know how to
«' continue always in the fame good Difpo-
<« fition, you (hall never have Reafon to repenc
<' of your Affedion to me, either now or in
<« future Time. '* When Xerxes had faid this,
and taken care to fee his Promife perform'd,
he continued his March -, and pa fling by Anaua
a City of Phrjgia^ and a Lake famous for the
making of Salt, he arriv'd at Colojfa^ a conli-
derable City of the fame Province ; where the
River L'^cus falling into an Aperture of the
Earth, difappears for the fpace of about' five
Stades in L^ength ; and then rifing again'runs
afterwards into the Meander, From this Place
the Army advanced to the City of Cydra^ buik
on the Borders of Phrygia and Lydia •, where
an Infcription engrav'd on a Pillar, which was
eredted by Crcefus, declares the Limits of each
Country. After they had enter'd the Territo-
ries of i)/Jf^, they found the Way divided in-
to two Routs ; one on the Left-hand leading,
to Caria^ the other on the Right, to Sardis,
Thofe who take the iaft of thefe Ways, are ne-
celTitated to pafs the Meander^ and to approach
the City of Callaiehus, in which Honey is
made by Men, with Wheat and the Shrub
Mjrice. Xerxes taking his March by this Way,
faw a Plane-tree fo beautiful, that he adorn'd
it with Gold •, and having committed the
Care of it to one of thofe Perfians who go
under the Name of Iminortal^ arriv'd the nexc
day at Sardis, the Capital of Lydia, Upon his
Arrival in that City he fent Heralds to Greece,
with
174 HERODOTUS.
with Orders to demaDd Earth and Water, and
to require all the Cities, except Athens and La-
cedetnon-) to provide every thing neceflary for
the King's Table; not doubting that the
Terror of his Arms would now induce all
thofe to a ready SubmifTion, who had former-
ly refus'd to comply with the like Demand,
made on the part of his Father Darius, When
Xerxes had difpatch'd thefe Heralds, he pre-
par'd to march towards Ahydus ; and in the
mean time commanded a Bridge to be laid
over the Hellefpont^ in order to pafs into Eu-
rope. The Coaft of the Hellefpontin Cherfo-
nefus^ which Faces the City of Abydus, and
ftretches along the Sea between Sejius and
Madytus^ is uneven, and of difficult Accefs.
In that Place, fome time after this Enterprize,
Zanthippus the Son of Ariphron^ an Athenian
Commander, took Artay5ies^ the Perfian Go-
vernor ot Seftus^ and empal'd him alive, for
conftraining the Women to enter into the Tem-
ple o^ Protefilaus in Eleus^ and there commit-
ting the molt execrable Crimes. The Bridge
was begun at .^^3;J^j, by Men appointed to that
end, and carried on to the oppofite Coaft;
which is feven Stades diflant from that City ;
the Phoenicians making ufe of Cordage of white
Hemp, and theiEgyptians of another fort cal-
led 5)'^//^i. But nofooner had they finifh'd the
Bridge, than a violent Storm arifing, broke
in pieces, and difpers'd the whole Work : Which
when Xerxes heard he fell into fuch a Tranf-
port of Anger, that he commanded three hun-
dred Stripes to be infli6led on the Back of the
Waters, and a Pair of Fetters to be let down into
the Hellefpont. I have heard, he likewife order'd
I thac
Book VII. POL TMNIA. 175
that Sea to be branded with Marks of Infamy,
But nothing is more certain, than that he
ftridiy enjoyn'd thofe who were entrufted with
he Execution of his Orders, to pronounce
hefe barbarous and impertinent Words : " O
' thou fait and bitter Water ! thy Mafler has
t condemned thee to this Punifhment, for of-
fending him without Caufe, and is refolv'd
to pafs over thee in defpice of thy Infolence.
With reafon all Men negledl to facrifice to
thee, becaufe thou art both dif^greeable and
treacherous." Thus having commanded the
Hellefpont to be chaftifed, he order'd the Heads
of ihofe who had the Diredtion of the Work-
men to be taken off-, which was all the Re-
compence they had for contriving the Bridge,
In their place other Architects were employ'd,
who prepar'd two Bridges in the following
manner : They brought three hundred and
f!xty Gallies into a Line, board by board, and
facing the Euxin Sea. On the other hand
they plac'd three hundred and fourteen
more, with their Sides turned towards the
Euxin^ and their Heads to the Current of the
Hellefpont^ in order to preferve the Cordage en-
tire. This done, they drop'd their main An-
chors, to fecure the Vedch on one fide againfl:
the Force of thofe Winds that blow from the
Euxifj^ and on the otiier, from the South and
Eafterly Winds of the ^gean Sea j leaving
three feveral PajfTages open to the Eaftward,
for the Convenience of thofe who Ihould de-
ft re to pafs from the Euxin, or to return thither.
After that, they falten'd Cables to the Shoar,
and (training them with Engines of Wood
prepar'd for that purpofe, bound the VefTels
together .
^^6 HERor^orus.
together, allowing only two Ropes of white
Hemp for every four mdidt o^ B'jblus, For tho*
the Thicknefs and Shape was the fame, yet
the former were of much greater Strength 5
every Cubit weighing a full Talent. Having
carried on thefe Lines of Ships from one Shear
to the other, they cover'd the Cordage with
Pieces of Timber, cut exadlly to the Breadth
of the Bridges, and ftrongly compared toge-
ther. Upon thefe again they laid Planks of
"Wood rang'd in order ; and having thrown a
Covering of Earth on the Top, they rais'd a
Barrier on each fide, that the Horfes and other
Cattle might not be terrified at the Sight of
the Sea. When the Bridges were finifh'd, and
the Canal at Mount Athos fecur'd by a Bank of
Earth thrown up at each End, to prevent the
Floods from choaking the PafTage with Sand j
the Army being inform'd that all things were
ready, departed from Sardis^ where rhey had
wintered, and diredled their March towards
Abydus. But as they were on the way thither,
the Sun quitting his Seat in the Heavens, dif-
appear*d ; and tho' the Air was perfedly fe-
rene and free from Clouds, a fudden Night
enfued in the place of Day : Which Xerxes ob-
ferving with Surprize, and no little Anxiety, en-
quired of the Magi what might be the mean-
ing of the Prodigy. They anfwer'd. That the
Gods by this Prefage plainly foretold the De-
Urudlion of the Grecian Cities ; becaufe the Sun
was the Protestor of Greece, and the Moon of
the Perfians. Xerxes pleas'd with their Inter-
pretation, refolv'd to continue his March: And
as the Army was ready to advance, Pylbius the
Lydian, partly terrified by the late Afpe(5l of the
I Heavens,
BookVir. POLTMNIA. lyy
Heavens and partly confiding in the Meric
of his liberal Offer, went to the King, and
fpoketobim in thefe terms : *« SIR, Will you
" condefcend to grant me a thing I defire ?
« 'Tis of little Confequence to you, and of
«' great Importance to me.'* Xerxes fufpcding
nothing lefs than what he defign'd to ask,
alTur'd him he would grant his Rcqueft, and bid
him ask freely. Upon which Pyibius taking
Confidence-, "SIR, faid he, I have five Sons.,
*« and they are all in your Army, ready to at-
«« tend you in this Expedition againft Greece,
<« Pity my Age, and exempt my eldeft from
«' the prefent Service, that he may take care
** of me, and of my Eftate. Let the reft fol-
*« low your Fortune ; and when you have ac-
" complifh'd your Defigns, may you return
" home in Safety." The King tranfported
with Indignation at thefe Words, anfwer'd 5
*'- Unworthy Man ! How dar'fl thou mention
" thy Son when thou feefl me going to hazard
*« my Perfon, my Children, my Brothers, and
" my Friends ? Thou, Ifay, who artmy Slave^^
*' and bound in duty to follow me with all thy
** Family, and even with thy Wife. Know
«' then, that the Spirit of a Man refides in his
*' Ears , from whence, as the Pl^afure of hear-
" ing things grateful is difFus'd thro' the whole
** Body, fo the contrary is irkfome and grie-
" vous to every Part. WHien you did well,
** and promis'd to continue in the fame good
" Difpofition, you had neverthelefs no rea-
" fon to boafl of having furpafs'd the King
" in Liberality. Neither fhall you now, up-
** on this change of your Manners, fuffer
" that Punifhment which your Impudence de-
^ Vol. II, M " ferves.
lyS HERODOTUS.
" ferves. Thy firft Merit has fav'd four of
" thy Sons ; and thy Folly has deflroy*d the
«' other, who is Co dear to thee." Having fi-
nifh'd thefe Words, Xerxes commanded the pro-
per Officers to find out the eldeft Son of Py-
tbius, and to cut his Body into two Parts ; one
of which they were order'd to lay on the Right-
hand, and the other on the Left of the Way,
that the Army might pafs between both. When
they had put the King's Command in execu-
tion, the Forces began to move in the follow-
ing Order. The Baggage, with the Servants,
firfl appeared in the Front, and were followed
by Men of all Nations, form'd into a Body
without Diftindtion, and amounting to more
than one half of the Army. Behind thefe an
Interval was left, that they might not mix with
that Part where the King was. Before him
march'd a thoufand Horfemen, chofen among
all the Perfians; and next to them, a thoufand
more of the fame Nation, Men equally well
chofen, and bearing Javelins pointing down-
wards. After thefe came ten great Horfe?,
bred in the fpacious Plain of the Median Nifd'ay
adorn'd with the richeft Furniture, and con-
fecrated to Jupiter, The Chariot of the God
immediately follow'd, drawn by eight white
Horfes, the Driver on foot holding the Reins,
becaufe no Mortal is permitted to mount the
Seat. Then Xerxes himfelf appeared on a
Chariot drawn by Nifaean Horfes, and dri-
ven by Patiramphes the Son of OtaneSy a Perfian.
He departed from Sardis in this Equipage, and
chang'd his Chariot for a lighter as often a* he
faw convenient. A thoufand Spearmen of the
braveft and moft noble among the Perfians,
march'd
Book VII. POLTMNIJ. 179
march'd next to the King carrying their Arms
after the manner of that Country ; and were
follow'd by another Body of Horfe con lift-
ing of a thoufand more, all chofen Men of
the fame Nation. After the Horfe ten thou-
fend Perfian Foot advanc'd ; and of thefe one
thoufand arm'd with Javelins, which were
adorn*d on the uppermoft Joint with Pome-
granates of Gold inflead of the common Or-
naments, border'd the other nine thoufand %
vvhofe Javelins carried a Pomegranate of Silver
on the fame Joint. All thofe who march'd
neareft to the Perfon of the King, and turnM
the Points of their Arms towards the Ground
had Pomegranates of Gold in the like manner on
their Javelins. The ten thoufand Foot were
follow'd by ten thoufand Perfian Horfe ; and
after an Interval of two Stades, all the reft:
of the Forces came on promifcuoufly. Thus
the Army marching from Lydia, arriv'd at the
River Calais in Mjfia ; and leaving the Moun-
tain Cana on the Ltfc, pafs'd thro' Atarneus to
the City Carina. From thence they advanc'd
into the Plains of 'Thehes \ and pa fling by the
Cities of Aclramyttium and the Pelafgian An-
tandrus, enter'd the Country of Ilium^ having
Mount Ida on the Left-hand. But as they
pafs'd the Night at the Foot of that Mountain,
many of their Men were deftroy'd by Thun-
der and Lightning. When they arriv'd on the
Banks of Sca?nander , the Waters were not
found fufHcient for the Men and for the Cat-
tle, tho' that River was the greateft they
had yet feen in their March. Here Xerxes
being defirous to take a View of the adjacenc
Places, went up to the Tower of Priamus \ and
M 2 when
i8o HERODOTUS.
when he had fatisfied his Curiofity, and en-
quir'd into divers Particulars, he facrific'da
thoufand Oxen to the IHan Minerva, and the
Magi pour*d out a Liberation in honour of the
Heroes. But notwithllanding this, a panick
Terrour feizing upon the Army in the follow-
ing Night, caus'd them to break up early the
next Morning. So paiTing by the Cities of Ra.
i'liim, Ophry}2ium and Dardanus-, which were on
the Left, and leaving the Gergithians and Teu-
crians at a greater dillance on the Right, they
advanc'd to Jbydus, When Xerxes was arriv'd
in that City, hedefir'd to fee all his Forces to-
gether : And to that end, afcending a ftately
Edifice of white Stone, which the Abydenians,
in obedience to a former Command, had built
to receive him in a manner fuitable to his
Greatnefs, he had a free Profped: of the Coaft
and from his Seat law at one View both his
Fleet and his Land- Army. Having given him-
lelf this Satisfadlion, and defiring to be Specta-
tor of a Sea-fight, he commanded all things to
be made ready for that purpofe ; in which he
was prefently obey'd : And having adjudg'd the
Victory to the Sidonian Phoenicians, he fhew'd
himfelf exceedingly pleas'd as well with this
Spedacle, as with the View of his Forces.
Then turning his Eyes upon the Hellejpont, and
feeing that Sea cover'd with his Ships, and
all the Plain of Abydus down to the Sea full
of Men, he feem'd at firft to be much
delighted •, but afterwards wept. Which
when his Uncle Artabanm perceiv'd, he
faid to him with the fame Liberty he had
us'd in difTuading him from invading Greece:
" SIR:^ your Actions are not uniform:
'^ In
Book VII. POLYMNIA. 18 1
«« In a few Moments you have pafs'd from
« an Excefs of Joy to (bedding Tears." The
King anfwer'd : " When I confider'd the
«' ihortnefs of human Life, I could not re-
«' ftrain the EfFeds of my Compaflion : For of
<' ail thefe Numbers of Men, not one fhall fur-
*« vive a hundred Years. But, rcply'd Arta-
'« hanus^ are we not expos'd, during our Lives,
<« to other things much more to be lamented ?
" Is any Man To happy, either among thefe,
'< or other Men , who even in this fhorC
" Courfe of Life, would not often chufe ra-
«' ther to die than to live ? The frequent Ca-
*' lamities and Difeafes incident to all, fo
" difturb the beft of our Days, that Life, tho*
'« really fhort, yet feems of a tedious Length %
«' and Death remains the only defirable Refuge
'•« of unhappy Mortals. But the Gods, from
" a Motive of Envv, have infus'd a certain
*' Sweetnefs into Life, in order to delude
'' Mankind. Artabanus^ faid the King, fince
" the Condition of human Life is fuch as you
" have defcrib'd, let us fay no more on that
" Subjedt J but rejecting all fad Refledtions, en-
" tertain ourfelves with the promifing Hopes
we have now in View. Be plain with me 5
if you had not feen the Vifion you faw fo
evidently in your Dream, would you ftill
*' perfift in your firfl Opinion, and continue
'' to dilTuade me from making War againft
*' Greece? Tell me the Truth with Freedom
" and Sincerity." To this QueRion Artabanus
anfwer'd : " May the Event of my Dream be
" fuch as we both defire; neverthelefs my Fears
" are (till fo prevalentwith me,that I am not Ma-
" Iter of myfelf. Upon Refledion I have found
M 3 *' divers
i82 HERODOTUS.
" divers things very contrary to your Defigns,
*' and cfpecially two, which are of the greateft
*« Confequence." " Poor Man, faid Xerxes i and
'« what may thofe two things be, that are fo
*« contrary to my Defigns ? Is our Land-
*^ Army deficient in Numbers ? Will the Gre-
*< cians bring greater Forces into the Field?
«« Or is our Fleet inferior to that of Greece?
'« Or, in a word, are our Enemies fuperi-
<^* or in both? If you think lo, we can ea(i-
" ly add to the Strength of our Forces.'*
«« SIR, anfwer'd Artahanus^ no Man of com-
^« mon Underftanding can think contemptibly,
*« eitiier of your Land- Forces, oroftheNum-
*' ber of your Ships. iVnd if thefe fhould
<^ be augmented, the two things I intended
<« would become more contrary to your Af-
*^ fairs than they are at prefent. By thefe
*' two things I mean the Sea and the Land,
«« For, as I conjecflure, no Harbour can be
«' found in any Part, fufHcienc to receive and
<« protedl your whole Fleet, if a Storm fhould
«' arife : And yet one is not enough : your
*' Affairs require many on every Coaft of
«« the Continent, to which this Expedition
?' will lead you. Since therefore you can have
«* no fafe Harbour for fuch a Fleet, you will
«« do well to remember, that Men are in the
«« Power of Fortune, and not Fortune in the
*' Power of Men. Having thus explained one
*' of the two things I propos'd, I fhall pro-
*^ ceed to the other. The Land will be your
f Enemy many ways ; and ftill the more for-
f' niidable, the farther yOu are permitted to
« advance without Refidance, and to carry
** al} before you. Men are always unwilling to
\y itop
Book VII. POLTMNIA 183
(lop in the Career of Succefs : And if you
meet wich no Oppofuion, Famine will pro-
bably overtake you, after you have fpenc
much time in penetrating far into a vaft
Country. He only is truly wife and valiant,
who with the utmofi: Caution confiders every
thing that may obftru6t his Defigns : and
after the matured Deliberation, boldly exe-
cutes the Enterprizes he has form'd." To
this Xerxes anfwer'd : '-'■ ArtahanuSy your Dif-
courfe concerning thefe Particulars is ra-
tional ; yet we muft not fear all things, nor
examine every Circumftance with fuch Stridt-
ncfs. For if we fhould enter into fo nice
a Difcufiion of all our Affairs, we fhould
never do any thing. Bold and daring En-
terprizes, tho' attended with one half of all
the Evils that can poflibly enfue, are pre-
ferable to Inaction , however fafe. After
all, he who difapproves and oppofes every
thing, without propofing fomething better,
is no lefs worthy of Blame, than one who
contradi6ts without reafon : And I am of o-
pinion, that no Mortal can determine with
certainty concerning the Event of human
Affairs. Experience fhews, that thofe who
refolve to pufh boldly, are for the moft pare
fuccefsful ; whereas thofe, v/ho adl with fo
much Caution, and form fo many Difficul-
ties, very rarely do any thing wich Advan-
tage. You fee to how high a Degree of Pow-
er the Perfians have attain'd : Which could
never have been, if the Kings, my Prede-
ceffors, had entertain'd fuch Thoughts as you
have •, or had not met with Counfellors of
another forr^ to diffuade them from fuch Opi-
M 4 « nions.
184 HERODOTUS.
" nions. By defpifing the Dangers that
*« threatned, they arriv'd to this Height of
*' Grandeur. And indeed, great Succefles
*' are no otherwife to be obtained, than by
«« adventuring boldly. We will therefore en-
" deavour to imitate our Anceftors ; and en-
*' tring upon Adion in the mod agreeable Sea-
" fon of the Year, we intend to fubdue all Eu-
rope^i and afterwards to return home, with-
out fuffering by Famine, or any other Mif-
fortune. For we not only carry a vaft Quan-
tity of Provifions with us, but Ihall be Maf-
tcrs of all the Corn that grows in the Coun-
<« tries we are about to invade, y/hich are in-
" habited by Husbandmen, and not by Gra-
*' fiers. Artahanus having heard this Anfwer
o^ Xerxes y faid : "SIR, fince you will not per-
«' mit me to fear the Succefs of your Enter-
<:'- prize, yet hearken to my Counfel in another
thing, andexcufeme, if having many things
to fay, lam neceffitated to extend my Dif-
courfe to a farther length. Cyrus the Son of
Catnh-jfes conllrain'd all the lonians, the A-
thenians only excepted, to be Tributaries of
the Perfians. I advife you therefore, not to
<^ lead thefe Men againft their Fathers, upon
<^ any Motive whatever: Efpecially fince we
'' have Forces more th: n fufficient to fubdue^our
*' Enemies without tneir AiTidance. For if
they accompany you in this Expedition, one
of thefe two things muft happen ; either
they will be fo bafe and wicked, to enflave
their Motiv r-City, or fo juft and honeft, to
contribute all their Endeavours to preferve its
Liberty. If they fhould be unfaithful to that
Countryj from which they derive their Ori-
^' gJnal,
cc
cc
cc
cc
cc
cc
cc
Book VII. POL TUN I A. 1 85
5' ginal, what can we expedl from fuch Men !
« And if they fhould do their Duty, what
*' Mifchiefs might they not bring upon your
" Army ? In conclufion, bear always in your
«' mind this antient Saying, which will be
*' eternally true, That no Man is able to judge
«« with certainty of the IfTue of things, what-
" ever the Beginning may be. Artabanus^ re-
*« plied Xerxest you are in nothing fo much de-
*' ceiv'd, as in the Sufpicion you have of the
*< lonians. You, and all thofe who invaded Scy-
" thia under my Father Darius^ muft own, that
«' they gave the mod certain Proof of their Af-
«' fedlion to us, when having in their power
*' to fave or deftroy the whole Army of the
*' Perfians, they refus'd to violate their Faith,
" or do any thing that might be prejudicial to
«' our Nation. Befides, they have left their
«' Children, their Wives, and their PoffefTions,
5' in our Territories ; which are the fureft Pled-
*' ges of their Fidelity. Fear nothing therefore
f ' of that fort ; but be eafy, and prepare to take
«* upon you the Care of my Family, and of my
" Government. For of all Men, you are the
" only Perfon I refolve to entruft with my Au-
<' thority." After this Difcourfe, Xerxes dif-
mifs'd Artahanus with Orders to return to Sufa *,
and having again affembled the principal Men
among the Perfians, he fpoke to this purpofe :
I have called you together at this time, to ex-
hort you to acquit yourfelves like Men of
Courage, without blemifhing the great and
glorious A(5lions of your Anceftors. Let
*' every one therefore in particular, and all of
*' us in conjundtion, fhew our Alacrity and Re-
" folution in this Enterprize, which is under-
<* taken
4C
i86 HERODOrUS.
taken for the common Good. But I could not
omit to incite you in a peculiar manner to
jfhew your Fortitude in this War -, becaufc
I am inform'd, that our Enemies are a brave
and warlike People ; and that if we conquer
them, no other Army will dare to oppofe us.
Prepare then to pafs the Sea, after we have
recommended ourfelves to the Care of thofe
Gods who are the Protestors of Perfia.
THE reft of the Day was fpent in difpofing
all things, in order to their PalTage : And wait-
ing the rifing of the next Sun, they in the
mean time burnt all fort of Perfumes upon
the Bridges, and ftrow'd the Way with Myr-
tles. When the Sun was rifen, Xerxes pour-
ing a Libation into the Sea out of a golden
Cup, addrefs'd a Prayer to the Sun, '' That
*' he might not meet with any Impediment fo
" great, as to hinder him from carrying his
" conquering Arms to the utmoft Limits of
*' Europe'''* After which he threw the Cup
into the Hellefpont^ with a Bowl of Gold, and
a Perfian Scymetar. But I cannot determine
whether his Intention was to confecrate thefe
things to the Sun, or whether he made this
Donation to the Hellefponty by way of Satif-
fadlion for the Stripes he had inflicted on that
Sea. After this Ceremony, all the Foot and
Horfe of the Army pafs'd over that Bridge,
which was next to the Euxin ; while the Ser-
vants and Draught-horfes, with the Baggage,
pafsM over the other, which was plac'd nearer
to the iEgean Sea. The ten thoufand Perfians
I mention'd before, led the Van, with Crowns
on their Heads, and were followed by Troops
promifcuoufly compos'd of all Nations, Thefe
3 pafs'd
Book VII. POLTMNIA, 187
pafs'd the firft Day. On the fecond, thofe
Horfe, who carried their Javelins pointed to
the Ground, pafs'd over firft, wearing Crowns
likewife. Then came the facred Horfes, the
facred Chariot ; and Xerxes himfelf, followed
by the Spearmen and one thoufand Horfe. All
the reft of the Army clos'd the March; and
at the fame time the Ships made to the Coaft
of Europe, I have heard that Xerxes march'd
in the Rear of all. But however that be, he
faw his Forces compeli'd by Blows to pafs over
the Bridge ; which yet was not effeded in lefs
than feven Days and feven Nights, tho' they
continued to pafs without Intermiflion during
all that time. After his Landing, a certain
Man of that Country, as is faid, cried out s
*' O Jupiter^ why art thou come to deftroy
" Greece^ in the Shape of a Perfian, and un-
«' der the Name of XerxeSy with all Mankind
" following thee-, whereas thy own Power is
^' fufficient to do this without their Aflif-
«' tance? " When the Army began to march,
a prodigious thing happen'd, yet not difficult
to be underftood, tho' altogether negleded by
Xerxes. A Mare caft a Hare inftcad of a
Colt: From which one might eafily conjedure,
that after Xerxes had tranfported a mighty Ar-
my into Greece with great Vanity and Often-
tation, he fhould be afraid for his own Life,
and run away to the Place from whence he
came. Another Prodigy had been feen before,
during the time he ftaid at Sardis, where a
Mule brought forth a Colt, with the Parts both
of a Male and a Female, the' the former ap-
peared more perfed. Bat Xerxes Hi^aung both
ihefe Events, continued to advance with his
Land-
i88 HER0D07U S,
Land-Forces •, while the Fleet at the fame time
failing out of the Hellefpont^ coafted along by
the Shoar, and kept on a quite different Courfe.
For they flood to the Weftward for the Promon-
tory of Sarpedon ; where they were commanded
to attend farther Orders: But the Land-Forces
march'd by the way of Cherfonefus^ facing the
Eaft and the rifing Sun. Then leaving the Se-
pulchre of //^//^, the Daughter of ^/y^^^w^^f, on
the Right-hand, and the City o^ Cardia on the
Left, they pafs'd through a Place cali'd Jgora\
and from thence bending their March towards
the Gulph Melana, they exhaufled the Waters
of a River bearing the fame Name, and left
the Channel dry. After they had pafs'd this
River, they march'd Weftward ; and pafTing
by ."Enus, an i^olian City, and the Lake Sle?:-
toris^ they arriv'd at Dorifcus, The Shoar of
this Part of Thrace is of eafy accefs, and opens
into a large Plain, divided by the Streams of
the great River Hehrus. In that Plain ftands
the City of Dorifcus^ encompafs'd by a Royal
Wall, and kept by a Perfian Garrifon plac'd
there by Darius when he made War againfl
the Scythians. X^r^^^i judging this Place con-
venient for reviewing and numbring his Forces,
commanded the Sea-Captains to bring all their
Ships to the Shoar that lay neareft to Dorifcus^
where the Cities of Sala^ Samotbracia and
Zor.a, are fituate, with another called Serrium,
built upon a famous Promontory, formerly be-
longing to the Ciconians. When they had
brought the Ships to Land, thole who were em-
ploy *d in that Work, were permitted to refl ;
and in the mean time Xerxes viev/ed his Army
in the Plain of Dorifcus, What Proportion of
Men
Book VII. POLTMNIA 189
Men each Nation furnifh'd to this Expedition,
I cannot affirm, becaufe they are not enumera-
ted by any Writer : But nothing is more cer-
tain, than that the Land-Forces amounted to
the full Number of feventeen hundred thou-
fand. For they were computed in this manner.'
Ten thoufand Men being firft drawn out in-
to one Place, and crouded as clofe together
as might pofTibly be, were encompafs'd with
a Circle trac'd upon the Ground : After which
they were order'd to retire, and a fort of
Hedge was planted upon the Circle, to the
Height of a Man's Middle. When this was
done, they caus'd another Ten thoufand to en-
ter the Ground ^ and continued to proceed in
the fame manner, till they had computed the
whole Army. Then they divided all the Troops
nationally into diftind: Bodies, which I fhali
here defcribe, with their Arms and Clothing.
In the firft place, the Perfians wearing a Tiara
on the Head, fo thick as to be accounted im-
penetrable •, and on the Body a Coat of Mail,
wrought with Iron to the likenefs of the Scales
of a Filh, and adorn'd with Sleeves of various
Colours. Their Thighs were not undefend-
ed ; and inftead of a Shield, they carried a
Target of Cane ftrongly compacted ; which
ferv'd alfo to cover their Quiver. Their Jave-
lins were (hort, their Bows long, their Arrows
were made of Cane, and their Swords hung
down from a Belt on the Right- fide. They were
commanded by Otanes^ the Father of AmeftriSy '
the Wife of Xerxes. In antient times the Per-
fians were by the Grecians called Cephenes, and
by themfelves and neareft Neighbours, Artis-
ans: But Perfeusy the Son ^ijuf^kr and Da-nae,
coming
190 HERODOTUS.
commgto Cepheus the Son of Belus^ married hist
Daughter Andromeda^ and by her had a Son,
whom he named Perfeus^ and afterwards left
with Cepbeusy becaufe he had no Male Child ;
and from him they took the Name of Perfians.
The Medes were arm'd and cloth'd in the fame
manner : For the Furniture I have defcrib'd,
belongs properly to the Medes, and not to
the Perfians. They march'd under the Conduct
of^igranesj who was of the Achaemenian Fa-
mily. The Medes were antiently called A-
rians by all Nations ; but chang*d their Name,
as they fay themfelves, when Medea of Colchis
arrived from Athens in their Country. The Cif-
fians appearing in every thing like the Per-
fians, except only that they wore Mitres on
their Heads, were led by Anephei the Son of
Otanes. The Hyrcanians were alfo arm'd after
the Perfian manner, and commanded by Me-
gapanus^ who was afterwards Governour of
Babylon. The Afly rians had Helmets of Brafs
to cover their Heads, contriv'd in fo ftrange
a Fafhion, as is not eafy to be defcrib'd: Eve-
ry one had a Buckler, a Javelin, and a fhort
Sword after the manner of the -Egyptians,
with a Pedoral made of Flax, and a Truncheon
of Wood pointed with Iron. By the Grecians
ihey are call'd Syrians ; and by the Barbari-
ans, Afiyrians. Among thefe the Chaldseans
were accounted, and Otafpes the Son of Arta-
chcBus was their Leader. The Badlrians had
Turbans on their Heads, not unlike thofeof the
Medes •, and carried Bows made of Cane after
the manner of their Country, with a kind of
Javelin very fliort. The Saces, or rather Scy-
thians, wore a Cap rifmg to a Point in the Form
of
Book VII. POLTMNIA 191
of a Pyramid: They had alfo Thigh-pieces;
and for Arms, carried a fort of Bow peculiar
to their Nation, with a Dagger, a Bill, and a
Scymetar. They came from J?nyrgium in Scy-
thia: but the Perfians call them Saces, which
is the common Name they give to all the Scy-
thians. The Badrians and Saces were led by
HjftafpeSy Son o^ Darius by Atojfa the Daughter
of Cyrus. The Indians cover'd with a Cafaque
of Wood, and carrying a Bow, and Arrows of
Cane pointed with Iron, were commanded by
Pharnazaihres the Son of Artahates. The A-
rians had Bows made like thofe of the Medes ;
and in all other things refembling the Badlri-
ans, march'd under the Conduct of Sifatnnes
the Son of Hydarnes. The Parthians, Choraf-
mians, Sogdians, Gandarians and Dadicians,
appeared in the fame Arms and Clothing as
the Badrians, under the following Leaders:
Artahazus^ the Son of Pharnaces., commanded
the Parthians and the Chorafmians : Azanes
the Son of Artceus^ the Sogdians-, and Arty-
phius the Son of Artabanus^ the Gandarians
and Dadicians. The Cafpians cloth'd in Goat-
skins, and arm'd with a Scymetar, and with a
Bow made of Cane, after the manner of their
Country, had for their Captain Ariomardus the
Brother of Artyphius. The Saranges magnifi-
cently drefs'd in Garments of the richeft Colour?,
and Buskins drawn up to the Knee, carried a
Bow and Javelins, like thofe of the Medes*, and
were led by Pherendates the Son of Megahyzus:
The Padyans clothed likewife in Goat-skins,
had a Bow and a (hort Sword peculiar to that
Country, and were commanded by Atrayntes the
Son of Itramltes. The Utians,. Mycians and
Pari-
192 HERODOTUS.
Paricanians, arm'd and cloth'd like the Padp
ans, march'd under the following Captains:
Arfamenes the Son of Darius led the Utians and >
Mycians ; and Siromitres the Son of OebazuSj '
the Paricanians. The Arabians wore a Girdle
over a Surcoat call'd Zeiras; and in the Right-
hand carried a crooked Bow of great Length.
The ^Ethiopians were cover'd with the Skins
of Lions and Leopards, and arm'd with Bows
full four Cubits long, made of the Branches of
the Palm-tree, with Arrows of Cane propor-
tionable, and pointed, inftead of Iron, with a
fharp Stone, of that fort they ufe for Seals.
They had alfo Javelins pointed with Goats-
horns fliarpen*d like the End of a Lance, aud
Truncheons arm'd with Iron. When they are ,
about to engage in Battle, they paint one half
of their Bodies with white Plaller, and the other '
half with Vermilion. The Arabians, and
thofe ^Ethiopians, who inhabit above ^gyptt
were commanded by Arfames the Son of Da-
rius by Artyftona the Daughter of Cyrus-, whofe
Image Darius cauo'd to be made of folid Gold,
becaufe he lov'd her more than all his other
Wives. But the ^Ethiopians, who inhabit more
Eafterly (for Xerxes had of both forts in his
Army) march'd with the Indians, no way un-
like the others, except only in the Sound of
their Voice, and in their Hair. For the O-
riental yEdiiopians have long ftrcight Hair:
But the Hair of the Lybian ^Ethiopians is
more curl'd than that of any other People, The
Arms and Habit of the Afiatick ^Ethiopians
were almoft the fame with thofe of the Indians :
But inftead of a Helmet, they wore the Skin of
a Horfe's Head, ftripc off with the Ears and
Mane j
Book VII. POL TMNIA, 193
Mane-, and contrived in fuch a manner, thac
the Mane might ferve for a Creft ; while the
Ears appear'd ere61:ed on the Head of the Man.
They were alfo defended by a Buckler, which
they cover'd with the Skins of Cranes. The
Libyans had Coats made of Leather, carried
a pointed Lance harden'd at one end by the
Fire, and were under the Condudl of Mafanges
the Son of Aorizus. The Paphlagonians wore
Helmets compos'd of divers Pieces quilted to-
gether •, they had a Buckler and Javelins of a
moderate Size, with Darts and a fhort Sword :
On their Feet they wore Shoes after the man-
ner of their Country, reaching up to the middle
of the Leg. The Ligyans, the Matienians and
the Mariandynians, with thofe Syrians, who
by the Perfians are call'd Cappadocians, were
arm'd and cloth'd as the Paphlagonians. The
Matienians and the Paphlagonians, were led by
Botus the Son of Megaftdes 5 and the Marian-
dynians, wich the Ligyans and Syrians, by Go-
hryas the Son ofD^mjand Artyftona. The Phry-
gians carried Arms little differing from thofe of
the Paphlagonians : This People, if wt may
believe the Macedonians, went under the Name
of Brygians, during all the time they inhabited
in Europe^ within the Territories of Macedonia ;
but upon their Arrival in Jfiay chang'd cheir
Name with their Country, and have ever fince
been call'd Phrygians. The Armenians, be-
ing a Colony of the Phrygians, appear'd in
the fame Accoutrements; and both thefe Na-
tions were commanded by Artochmes^ who had
married a Daughter of Darius, The Lydians
were arm'd more like to the Grecians than
any other People of the Army : They had been
Vol. II. N formerly
194 HERODOTUS.
formerly known by the Name of Meonians ;
but were afterwards call'd Lydians from Ly-
dus the Son of At'jS. The Myfians had a fort
of Helmet peculiar to their Country, with a
little Buckler, and pointed Javelins harden'd
at the End by Fire. They are a Colony of the
Lydians, and are call'd Olympians from the
Mouncain Olympus. Borh theie Nations were
led by Artaphernes^ the Son of that Artapher-
nes who, with Datis^ commanded the Perfian
Forces at the Battle of Marathon. The Thra-
cians covered their Heads with a Cap made
of the Skins of Foxes, and their Bodies with
a Veft, and Surcoat of various Colours : They
had Bufkins tied with Thongs above the Ancle,
and a fmall Buckler made in the form of a
Half-moon, with Javelins and a (hort Dagger.
They have gone under the Name of Bithyni-
ans ever fince they arriv'd in Afia ; and if we
may believe their own Report, were formerly
call'd Strymonians, from the River Strymon
where they inhabited, and from whence they
were expell'd by the Myfians and by the Teu-
erians. Thofe Thrafians, who in Afia retain'd
their original Name, were commanded by Bar-
gafaces the Son of Artabanus. Tiiey carried a
(mail Bncklercompos'd of untann'd Hides, with
two Lycian Javelins, and a Helmet of Brafs,
having the Ears and Horns of an Ox of the
fame Metal. They wore a Creft at the Top of
their Helmet, and their Legs were cover'd with
Phoenician Cloth. Thev have an Oracle of
Mars in their Country. The Mronian Cabeli-
ans, who are alfo call'd Lafinians, had the fame
Arms and Clothing with the Cilicians, which
I fliall defcribe when I come to fpeak of that
Ndcion.
fiook Vir. POL TMN I A. 1 95
Nation. The Mylians carried fhort Lances,
and were cloth'd in a Garment buckled to-
gether. Some of them had Lycian Bows, and
aCapcompos'd of Skins. All thefe were com-
manded by Badres the Son of H^ftanes, The
Mofchianshad a Helmet of Wood, with a lit-
tle Buckler, and Javelins of a like propotion
but deeply pointed. TheTiberenianSj Macro-
nians and Mofynoecians were arm'd as the Mof-
chians, who with the Tiberenians march'd un-
der the conduct o^ Arwmardus^ the Son of Da^
rius by Parmys the Daughter of Smerdis the Son
of Cyrus. But the Macronians and Mofynoeci-
ans were led by Arlai^es^ the Son of Cherafmis
and Governour of 6'^«jonthe Hellefpont, The
Marians wore a Cap ftrongly quilted, after
the manner of their Country, and carried Jave-
lins, with a little Shield cover'd vvith Skins.
The Colchians had a Helmet of wood, with a
Buckler made of untann'd Hides, a fhort Lance,
and a cutting Sword. The Forces of thefe
two Nations had for tlieir Leader P her end ate s
the Son of Tbeafpes. The Allarodians and the
Safpirians, arm'd like the Colchians^ march'd
under the Command of Mafiftius the Son of
Siromitres. The People that inhabit the Iflands
of zhe Red- Sea, to which the King ufually fends
the Perfonii he refolves to banifh, were cloth'd
and arm'd like the Medes, and led by Mar-
dontes, the Son of BagcBuSy who was kill'd two
Years after at the Battle of Mycale. Thefe
were the Nations that composed the Army,
which was to be employ'd on the Continent;
and thefe were the Names of their Leaders,
who divided and numbred all the Forces, and
had the Power of appointing the Comman-
N 2 der^
196 HERODOTUS.
ders of a Thoufand, and of ten Thoufand :
But thofe who had the Command of ten Thou-
fand, were permitted to nominate the Centu-
rions and Decurions. Thus thefe national
Forces had their inferior Officers •, and thofe
I have mentioned were their Commanders in
chief. But the fuperior Generals of the Land-
Army, were, Mardonius the Son of Gohyas *,
'Trintatiechmes^ the Son of Artahanus who gave
his Opinion againft the War; Smerdones the Son
o^ Otanes (both Sons to the Brothers of Dariusy
and Coufins to Xerxes -,) Mafiftes the Son of D^-
rius by Atojffa \ Gergys the Son of Ariazus ; and
Megahyzus the Son of Zoprrus. Thefe were
Captain-Generals of all the Army, except the
ten Thoufand Perfians, who obev'd no other
Commander than Hydarrtes, the Son of Hydarnes^
and were firnam'd Immortal ; becaufe upon the
Death of any one of their Number, whether
by War or Sicknefs, another is prefently fubfti-
tuted in his Place: So that they never amount
to more orlefs than ten Thoufand. They were
accounted the mod valiant among the Perfians;
and tho' in their Arms and Habit they were
like the reft of their Countrymen, yet they
were more magnificent, and adorn'd with Gold
in abundance. Befides they had Chariots for
their Women with their Attendants, who were
richly cloth'd ; and their Provifions were
brought upon Camels and other Beafts of Bur-
den, appropriated to their own Ufe. All the
Nations I have mention'd, are accuftom'd to
iDount on Horfeback ; but none were furnifh'd
with Horfes, except thofe which I (hall enume-
rate. Firft, the Perfians ; who were no other-
wife arm'd than their Foot j except only that
fomc
Book VII. POLTMNIA 197
fome of them wore a Helmet of Brafs or^Iron.
The Sagartians •, who are Breeders of Cattle,
of Perfia^ Extradion and Language •, but arm'd
and cloth'd in a manner participating both of
the Perfian and Padyan Fafhion •, furnifh'd
eight thoufand Horfemen to this Expedition.
They had no Weapon either of Iron or Brafs,
except a fhort Sword -, carrying only a kind of
Net made of Cord, inftead of ail other Arms ;
and expofing their Perfons in War, without
any other Defence. When they approach the
Enemy, they throw their Net, and having taken
either a Man or a Horfe, they eafily difpatch
whatever is fo intangled. In this manner they
behave themfelves in Fight -, and being ac-
counted Perfians, were drawn up in the fame
Body. The Median and CifTian Horfe were
no otherwife equip'd than the Foot of thofe
Nations. The Indians were alfo arm'd like
their Foot ; had led Horfes , and Chariots
drawn by Horfes and wild AfTes. The Badrian
and Cafpian Cavalry were furnifh'd in all Points
as their Infantry. The Libyans were arm'd
and cloch'd like their Foot, and every one of
them had a Chariot. The Paricanians imita-
ting the Cafpians, carried the fame Arms with
their Foot. And the Arabians, not at all dif-
fering from their Infantry in Arms or Clothing
were mounted upon Camels no lefs fwift than
Horfes. Thefe were the only Nations that
compos'd the Cavalry ; which amounted to
the Number of fourfcore Thoufand , befides
the Camels and the Chariots. All the Horfe
were difpos'd in proper Order : But the Ara-
bians were plac'd in the Rear, left the Horfes
(hould be affrighted at the Sight of the Camels,
N 0, which
I9S
HERODOTUS.
which they cannot bear. Armamithres and 7i-
th(BU5^ the Sons of Datis, were Generals of the
Cavalry. For Pbarnuches, who had been ap-
pointed the other General, was fick at Sardis^
by an unfortunate Accident which happen'd
to him as he march'd out of the City. His
Horfe frighted at a Dog that ran between his
Legs, rofe upright, and threw him to the
Ground •, upon which he vomited Blood, and
fell into a languifhing Diftemper. But the Ser^
vants of Pharnuches<, by his Order, punifh'd the
Horfe upon the fpot : For leading him to the
Ground where he hid thrown his Mafter, they
cut off his Legs by the Knee. And thus Phar-
tiuches was difabled from performing the Of-
fice of a General.
AFTER the Land-Forces had been view'd,
the Ships of War were alfo numbred, and found
to be :welve hundred and feven, fitted out by
the fot 'Owing Nations, in fuch Proportions as
I (hall fet down. The Phcerncians and Syrians
who inhabit Palejiine^ furnifh'd three hundred
Ships with Men arm'd in this manner. On
their Heads they v/ore Helmets, nearly refem-
bling thofe of the Grecians \ and on their Brcaft
a Pecftoral of quilted FJax. They carried Jave-
lins and a round Shield, without any Bofs on
the Center. Thefe Phoenicians, as they fay of
themfelves, v/ere antiently feated on the Rei
Sea \ and afterwards leaving. their Habitations,
went and fettled in the maricim Parts of S^ria \
v/hich, with all the Country extending down
to j^gypt, go under the Name of Pakffine, The
^.gyptians fent two hundred Ships for their part.
Their Men had a Cap ftrongly quilted, a con-
vex Buckler with a great Bofs -, Javelins proper
for
BookVIL POLTMNIA. 199
for a Sea-fight, and Bills of the largeft Size.
The more ordinary fort wore a Corflet, and
were arm'd with a great cutting Sword. The
Cyprians brought a hundred and fifty Ships,
and appear'd in this manner : Their Kings
wore Mitres on their Heads, and the reft were
cioth'd in Vcfts, and arm'd like the Grecians.
The People of Cyprus^ if we may believe their
own Report, are defcended of divers Na*'
tions ; fome deriving themfclves from Salamis
and the Athenians ; and others from Arcadia^
from Cythnus^ from Phcsnicia •, and fome from
the ^Ethiopians. The Cilicians furnifh'd a
hundred Ships. They wore a Cap made after
the manner of their Country ; and inftead of a
Shield, had a Buckler of the fmalleft Size, co-
ver'd with untann'd Hides. They were cloth'd
in a woollen Veft , and every one carried
two Javelins , with a Sword not unlike
that of the i^gyptians. The Cilicians were
antiently cali'd Hypach^eans, and took the
Name they now have, from CiliK the Son of
y^g^w^r a Phoenician. The Pamphylians, whoare
defcended from thofe that return'd from Troy
with Amphilochus and Calchas^ furnifh'd thirty
Ships, and were arm'd after the manner of the
Grecians. The Lycians appear'd in fifty Ships :
Their Shoulders were covered with the Skins of
Goats, their Legs with Boots and upon their
Heads they wore a Cap adorn'd with a Creft of
Feathers. They were arm'd with a Corflet,
and carried a Bow of Cornil, with Arrows of
Cane ; they had alfo a Falchion, with Darts
and a fhort Sword. They derive their Original
from Crete^ and were formerly cali'd Termilians :
But receiv'd the Name of Lycians from L'jcus the
N 4 Son
200 HERODOTUS.
Son of Pandion^ an Athenian. The Dorians
of jifta furnifh'd thirty Ships ; and as they
were Peloponefians by Defcent, appear'd, in
all Points, arm'd like the Grecians. The Ca-
rians contributed Seventy Ships ; and, except
their Daggers and Faulchions , were arm'd
after the manner of Greece, What Name they
had in antient time, I have mention'd in the
former Part of this Work. The lonians brought
a hundred Sail, and were arm'd and cloth'd
as the Grecians. Whilft they liv'd in Peloponefui
and inhabited thofe Parts which are now call'd
Achaia^ before the Arrival of Danatis and Xu-
ihuSy the Grecians fay, they went under the
Name of ^gialian Pelafgians -, and that they
had the Name of lonians from lon^ the Son of
Xuthus. The Iflanders appear'd with no more
than feventeen Ships, and were arm'd like the
Grecians. Thefe alfo being of Pelafgian Ori-
ginal were afterwards calTd lonians for the
fame Reafon j and the twelve Cities in like
manner have been fo nam'd from the Athenians.
The .^olians, who, as the Grecians fay, were
antiently call'd Pekfgians, brought fixty Ships,
and were arm'd after the manner of Greece,
All the Hellefpontins (except the Abydenians,
who were order'd by the King to ftay at home
for the Guard of the Bridges^ furnifh'd one
hundred Sail -, and being Colonies of the loni-
ans and Dori.ms, appeared in Grecian Arms.
Every one of thefe Ships had Soldiers on board ;
who were either Perfians, or Medes, or Saces.
But the Phoenician Si;ips, and efpecially thofe of
Sidonia^ were the befi S ilors. All the Divifi-
ons of thi.s Fleet, as well as of the Land-For-
cesj had their own national OiHcers j but I
IhaU
Book VII. POLTMNIA, 201
fhall forbear to mention their Names, as not
neceflary to the Defign of my Hiflory •, partly,
becaufe thofe Commanders were of little Au-
thority ; and partly, becaufe they were no lefs
numerous than the Cities contain'd within the
feveral Nations, from which they came. For
indeed they were properly Servants, and not
Generals-, Qavilhly obeying their Mailers, like
the reft of the Multitude. For the fupreme
Command was lodg'd in the Hands of Perfians ;
whofe Names I have already mentioned, as far
as relates to the Land-Army. The Naval For-
ces were commanded in chief by Ariahignes the
Son of Darius •, by Pre>:afpes the Son of Afpa-
thines \ by Megahazus the Son of Megahates ; and
by Achamenes the Son of Darius, The lonians
and Barians were under the Condu6l of Ariahig-
nes the Son of Darius by the Daughter of Go-
hrias ; the ^Egyptians under that of Acb^menes>
Brother to Xerxes : and all the reft of the Fleet
was commanded by the two other Generals be-
fore-nam'd. Befides thefe Ships of War, the
Gallies of fifty and thirty Oars, with the VeiTels
of Tranfportation for Horfe and other NecefTa-
ries, amounted to the Number of three Thou-
fand. Next to the Generals I have mention'd,
the Commanders of greateft Fame, were, Te-
tramnejlus the Son of Allefus^ of Sidonia ; Mapen
the Son of Sironus, of Tyre ; Narbal the Son of
Arhalus of Aridela \ Sjennefis the Son of Oromedon
of Cicilia *, Cibernifcus the Son of Sic a of Lycia ;
Gortus the Son of Cberfes, and Timonax the Son of
Timogarus^ both Cyprians : And of the Carians,
HifticBUs the Son of Tymnes •, Pygres the Son of
Seldomus ', 2indDamaJifbymus the Son of Candaules,
I fhall mention no more of the Commanders, be-
caufe
202 HERODOTUS.
caufe I judge it unneceflary. But above all I
admire Artemifia^ who being \dt a Widow, and
having taken upon her the Adminiftration bf
her Son's Kingdom during his Minority, ex-
pos'd her Perion in this Expedition againft
Greece \ not conftrain'd by any Neceffity, but
only to (hew her Generofity and Valour. She
was the Daughter of Lygdamist and deriv'd her
Original by the Father's Side from Halicarnaf-
fus^ and from Crete by the Mother. The Ha-
licarnafTians. the Coans, the Nifyrians, and the
Calydnians were under her Dominion ; and
Ihe join'd the Fleet of Xerxes with five Ships
of War, better than any of the reft, except
thofe of the Sidonians. In a word, her Fore-
fight was fo great, that of all the Confederates
ihe gave the moll prudent Counfel to the King.
As for the People, which, as I faid before, were
under her Government, they are originally Do-
rians: For the HalicarnafTians are a Colony of
the Trcezenians, and the reft are defcended
from the Epidaurians,
WHEN Xerxes had caus'd all his Forces to be
number'd, and drawn into diftindl Bodies, he re-
folv'd to take a particular View of every Nation.
And to that end, ftepping into a Chariot, was
carried to the Head of each Divifion ; and ha-
ving ask'd fuchQuefticns as he thought neceiLry,
commanded his Secretaries to puc in writing the
Anfwers he receiv'd : continuing to proceed in
this manner, till he had intirely view'd all the
Land- Army, both Horfe and Foot. That done,hc
left his Chariot, and going on board a Sidonian
Ship, plac'd himfelf under a Canopy of Gold:
And failing by the Fleer, which was rang'd on a
Line he made the like Enquiry, as before in
rektion
Book VII. POL YMNIA, 203
relation to the Land- Forces, and order'd an
y^ccount of all the Particulars to be written
down by the fame Perfons. In order to this
Review, the Commanders had put to Sea in
due time \ and having drawn their Ships into
one Line, at the diitance of about four hundred
Foot from the Shoar, with their Heads front-
ing that way, they arm'd their Men as for a
Battle *, and Xerxes failing between the Land
andtheShips, faw them all diflindly. When he
had made an end of viewing the Fleet, and
was return'd to fhoar, he fent for Bemaratus
the Son of Arifton^ and fpoke to him in thefe
Terms: " Bemaratus, faid he, I defire to ask
^« you a Qaeltion: You are a Grecian ; and
*' moreover, born in a City of Greece, which,
*' as I am inform'd by you, and other Per-
♦' fons of that Nation, whom I have ieen, is
« neither the lead nor the weakeft. Tell
« me therefore, whether you think the Grecians
« will dare to refift my Forces? For I am per-
«' fuaded, that if not only all the Grecians,
" but all the reft of the Weftern World were
«« colledted into one Body, they would not
" have the Courage to oppofe me. However,
^' 1 am defirous to know your Opinion on
*' this Subjedl." "SIR, (d\d BejnaratuSy (hall
♦' I frame my Anfwer according to the Trath,^
*' or muft I endeavour to pleafe? " The King;
bid him fpeak the Truth with Freedom, and
be afTur'd he fhould not lofe any part of his
Favour on that account. Which when Be-
maratus heard, he began thus: " Since you
*' require me to inform you of tlit Truth with-
" out referve, I will take care that no Man (hall
^^ hereafter juftly accufe me of having dc-
*« ceived
C(
ic
204 HERODOTUS.
*' ceiv'd you by a Falfhood. Know then> that
" Greece was ever inur'd to Poverty, which
*' has been her Mother and Nurfe-, that fhe
accquir'd Virtue by her Wifdom, and by a
fteady DifcipJine, with which fhe has de-
fended her Poverty and her. Power. Thefe
Praifes are juftly due to all thofe Grecians,
who inhabit the Country of the Dorians.
But I fhall not now fpeak of any other People
*' than of the Lacedemonians alone. In the
** firfb Place, they never will hearken to your
Terms, becaufe they are de(tru6live ro the
Grecian Liberty : Nay more, they will not
fail ro meet you in the Field, tho' all the reft
'' of che Grecians fhould fide with you. To
*' ask how many they are in Number, is un^
*' neceffary ; for whether they amount to a
" thoufand Men, or more, or even lefs, they
" will moft certainly appear and give you Bat-
«' tie." At thefe Words of Demaratus^ Xerxes
laughing laid ; " Are you not afhamed to fpealc
'' in this manner ? What ! Shall a thoufand
«' Men venture to engage fo great an Army ?
«' Would you, who have been their King, un-
«« dertake to fight fingly againft ten Men ? If
'' your Countrymen are fo valiant as you pre-
<* tend, you, who arc their King, ought by
«' your own Infticutions, to be capable of do-
** ing as much as any two of ordinary Rank ;
«' and therefore, if one of thefe is able to fight
*' ten of my Men, I may juftly require you to
*« fight twenty \ and by that Experiment to
^' confirm your Difcourfe. But if they are
«' neither of greater Strength, nor of a high-
«' er Stature, than you, and the reft of the
^' Grecians I have feen, confider, whether the
«« things
Book VII. POLTMNIA. 205
things you have faid of them, may not be
the Effed of Pride and Vanity. I defire to
know, how a thoufand Men, or even ten
thouland, or, if you will, fifty thoufand, all
equally free, and not fubjeft to the Command
of a fingle Perfon, can pofTibly refill fuch
an Army as mine ? And unlefs they are
more than five thoufand, we have a thoufand
Men againft one. Were they indeed, like
our Forces, under the abfolute Command of
one General, they would doubtlefs bepufh'd
on to bolder Attempts by their Apprehenfi-
ons of his Power, than by their own natu-
ral Courage ; and might be conftrain'd by
Force, to attack a far greater Number than
themfelves : But now, being under no Com-
pulfion, they are not likely to do either the
one or the other. And I am of opinion,
that the Grecians, upon Tryal, will not be
a Match for an equal Number of Perfians.
Thofe Qualities of which you boaft, are
really in us only, tho' I muft own they are
rare and uncommon. Yet I have Perfians in
my Guards, who will not refufe to encoun-
ter thrice their Number of Grecians, fo
much magnified with you without Caufe.'*
To this Demaratus replied ; " SIR, I knew
from the Beginning, that the Truth I Ihould
fpeak would be difpleafing to you ; but bc-
caufe you encourag'd me to deliver my Opini-
on with Sincerity, I thought myfelf oblig'd
to give you a juft Character of the Lacedemo-
nians. You k ow how little Caufe I have to
retain any Affection for thofe, who, after they
had depriv'd me of the Honours and Digni-
ty of my Anceftors, conftrain'd me to to aban-
«' don
treams together, pafs thro' the Chops of
a narrow Channel into the Sea ; retaining no
other Name than that of Peneus, after their
Conjundlion. They fay alfo, that, before this
Channel was laid open, neither thefe Rivers,
nor the Lake Bceheis were knov/n by the Names
they now bear, tho' the Waters then fell down
from the Mountains in the fame Quantity as
at this Day ^ but that all "Thejfaly was one en-
tire
Book VII. POLTMNIA. 217
tire Lake. The Theflalians tell us, that the
Channel, by which the River Peneus pafTes in-
to the Sea, is the Work of I^eptune j and per-
haps not improperly. For thofe who think that
God to be the Author of Earthquakes, and
fuch Divulfions of Countries to be the Effedb
of his Power, will not fail, upon Sight, to
attribute this to Neptune. And in my Opinion,
the Separation of thefe Mountains was effec-
ted by an Earthquake. But the Guides of
Xerxesy in anfwer to his Queftion, whether the
River Peneus might be convey'd into the Sea
by another Channel, faid with Reafon •, »' O
'' King, this River has no other way to dif-
'' charge its Waters, except this alone •, be-
« caufe all 'Thejfaly is furrounded with Hills.'*
" If fo, replied Xerxes^ the ThefTalians have
" fhewn themfelves wife Men, in making early
*' Provifion for their own Safety -, becaufe they
" knew their Country might be eafily fubdued
" in a fhort time. For nothing more is required
" to effedt this, than to ftop the Mouth of
'« the River by a Dike 5 which would cer-
*' tainly lay all T]6^/)^ under Water, except the
" Mountains only." Xerxes exprefs*d himfelf
in this manner, out of a particular Regard to
the Aleuadians ; who being Thcfiilians, had
put themfelves under his Protedlion, before
any other People of Greece : And he hop'd
they would not be wanting to perfuade the
reft to imitate their Example. Having thus
fpoken, and fatisfied his Curiofity, he return'd
by Sea to nerma^ and pafs'd feverai Days
about Pieria, while one third part of his For-
ces was employ*d in preparing a Way for
all his Army to pafs over a Mountai.n of Ma-
4 (edema
2i8 HERODOruS.
cedonia into the Territories of the Peraebi-
ans.
I N the mean rime the Heralds, who had
been fent to Greece^ return'd to Xerxes \ feme
with Earth and Water, and others without.
The Nations that prefented thofe Elements,
in Compliance with his Demands, were, the
Thefialians, the Dolopians, the Enienians,.
the Persebians, the Locrians, the Magnetic
ans, the Melians, the Achaians, the Pchioti-
ans, and the Thebans, with all the reft of the
BcKotians, except the Thefpians and the Pla-
t?eans. But thofe Grecians, who refolv'd to
defend themfclves againft the Barbarians by
War, took a folemn Oath, " That fo foon as
'' the Affairs of Greece fhould be reftor'd tea
*' good Condition, they would compel every
*' Grecian Community, which fhould be con-
*' vidted of having put themfelves into the
*' Hands of the Perfians without manifeft Ne-
*' cefTity, to the pay the tenth Part of all their
« PoflefTions to the Delphian God.'*
XERXES fent no Heralds either to Jthem
or Spar la to demand Earth and Water •, becaufe
they had formerly fo ill receiv'd thofe who had
been employ'd thither on the fame MefTage by
Darius ; having thrown feme into Wells and
others into deep Pirs, bidding them carry Earth
and Water to the Kins; from thofe Places. For
that Reafon no Heralds were difpatch'd to ei-
ther of thefe Naiions. What Difafter fell up-
on the Athenians, in confequence of the Seve-
rity they us'd to thofe Mellengers, I cannot
affirm. Their City indeed and all their Terri-
tories fuffer'd great Damage -, but not, as I be-
lieve, on that account. As for the Lacedemo-
I nians,
Book VII. POLTMNIA. 219
nians, they felt the cruel EfFedls of the Anger of
Tahbyhius, who had been Herald to Jgamemiion.
He has a Temple in Sparta \ and his Pofterity,
who go by the Name of Takhybiads, have the
Honour of performing all their EmbafTies. But
after the bad Reception they gave to the He-
ralds of Darius^ they could not facrifice happi-
ly for a long time ; and being much difturb'd aC
this Calamity, they met together often, and by
publick Proclamation, made Inquiry, " If any
«' Lacedemonian would die for Sparta.^* Up-
on which Notification, Sperthies the Son of Ane-
riftusy and Bulls the Son of Nkolaus^ both Spar*
tans, of eminent Dignity and Intereft, volun-
tarily offer'd their Lives, to make Satisfaftion
to Xerxes the Son of Darius, for the Death of
his Heralds. And accordingly, the Lacedemo-
nians fent thefe Perfons to the Medes, as to cer-
tain Death. But as their Courage defervM Ad-
miration, fo their Words were no lefs memora-
ble. For when, in their Way to Sufa'j they
came to Hy dames, the Perfian General of the
maricim Parts of Jfia, he receiv'd and treated
them with great Magnificence ; and among o-
ther Difcourfeask'd them this Queftion •, " Men
" 0^ Laced^emon, Why have you fuch an Aver-
" fion for the King's Friendfliip ? You may fee
*' by my Example, and the Dignities I pof-
*' fefs, how well the King underltands the Va-
" lue of a brave Man. He has already a high
" Opinion of your Courage ; and if you will
" comply with his Defires, he will certainly
" confer the Government of fome Part of
*' Greece upon every one of your Nation.'* They
anfwer'd ; " Hydarnes, you are not a proper
" Perfon to give us Counfcl in this Affair ; For
<' you
(6
cc
cc
220 HER0D07US.
you determine concerning two things not
equally underftood by you. How to be a
Servant, you know perfedtly well •, but you
have neither tried whether Liberty be v*alu.
able, or not. If you had ever experienc*d
the Worth of Liberty, you would counfel
us to defend it, not only with Lances, but
*' even with Hatchets."
WHEN they arriv'd at Sufa, and ap-
pear'd before the King, his Guards firft com-
manded, and then went about to conftrain them
by force to prod rate themfelves, and to adore
him. But they faid, they would not comply
with that Ufage, whatever Violence they
might fuffer : That they had never been ac-
cuftom'd to adore a Man, and came not thither
to that end. Having thus defended themfelves
from this Impofition, they fpoke to Xerxes in
thefe Words : " King of the Medes, we are
*' fent by the Lacedemonians, to make you
«' Satisfadlion for the Death of thofe Heralds
«' who were kill'd in Sparta^ Xerxes having
heard their MeiTage, generoufly anfwered ,
*' That he would not be hke the Lacedemo-
" nians, who had violated the Rights of Man-
" kind by the Murder of his Heralds j nor do
the fame thing which he blam'd in them ; and
by the Death of two Men acquit the Spar-
tans from the Guile they had contraded"
However, after the Lacedemonians had offered
this Satisfadion, the Anger of ^allbybius ceas'd
for that time, tho' Sperthies and Buiis returned
fafe to Sparta. But after many Years, and
during the War between the Peloponefians and
the Athenians, the Lacedemonians fay, that
the Wrath of Tallhjbm broke out agnjn, in a
manner
C(
cc
C(
Book VII. POLTMNIA. 221
inanner which to me appears wonderful. For
the* the Sufpenfion of his Difpleafure, whea
the two Spartans were fent away to Xerxes by
way ot Reparation, was no more than might
be juftly expedled *, yet that his Vengeance
Ihould overtake the Sons of thofe very Men,
who had been devoted to that End, perfaades
me to think they were punifh'd by a divine
Power. For Nicolaus the Son of Bidis, and y^ne-
rijlus the Son of Sperlbies, (who had before
taken and pillag'd fome Tyrinthian Fifhermen,)
being fenc on a MelTage to /^Jia by the Lacede-
monians, were betray 'd in their Paflage by Si-
takes, the Son of ^yreus, King of Thrace ; and
falling into the Hands of Nynphodorus the Son
of Pyluetfs of Jbdera, were carried Prifoners to
Athens^ and put to death by the Athenians,
with Arifteas the Son of Adimantus, a Corin-
thian. But thefe things happen'd many Years
after the Expedition of Xerxes.
TO return now to my Narration ; This War
was coloured over with the Pretence of attack-
ing Athens •, but was really defign'd againft ail
Greece, Yet the Grecians, who had long heard
of the Preparations made by Xerxes were noc
all afFeded in the fame manner. For thofe who
had prefented him with Earth and Water, flat-
ter'd themfelves, that they fhould not fuffer any
kind of Damage from the Barbarians -, but thofe
who had refus'd to pay that Acknowledgment,
were under terrible Apprehenfions -, becaufe all
Greece, was not able to furnifh a fufficient Num-
ber of Ships to fight the Enemy \ snd many in-
clining to favour the Medes, were not willing
to engage in the war. On this Occafion, i muft
declare my Opinion, with a Plainnefs which
perhaps
222 HERODOTUS.
perhaps may be difpleafing to the greater Num-
ber ; and yet I cannot perfuade myfelf to con-
ceal what I think to be true. If the Atheni-
ans, terrified with the impending Danger, had
abandon'd their Country ; or continuing at
Home, had furrender'd to Xerxes^ no other
People would have ventured to refill his Fleet.
And if he had found no Oppofition by Sea, he
would foon have been Matter of the Land.
For tho' the Peloponefians had fortified the Wall
of the Ifthmus with many Works , yet the La-
cedemonians, after they had feen their Allies
difpoffefs'd of their Cities by the Enemy*s
Fleet, and conftrain'd by NecefTity to abandon
the Confederacy, would inevitably have been
left alone to fuftain the Weight of the War:
And being thus deferted, they mufl have chofen,
cither to die with immortal Glory in the Field;
or to make their Peace with Xerxes, after all
the Grecians had taken part with him. In
both Cafes Greece mud have been reduc'd under
the Perfian Power : For I cannot yet learn, of
what Advantage the Wall upon the lilhmus
would have prov'd , if the King had been
Mafter of the Sea. To fay, therefore, that
the Athenians were the Deliverers of Greece^
is no Deviation from the Truth. They could
have caft the Balance, which fide foever they
had taken. But having refolv'd to defend the
Liberty of Greece^ they a waken'd the Courage of
all thofe Greci;^n:5, who had not been corrupt-
ed by the Medes *, and with the Affiftance of
the Gods, repuls'd the King. They would not
be perfuaded to abandon Greece^ by the terri-
ble Menaces of the Delphian Oracle ; but per-
fiftingin their Rcfolution, determin'd to fuftain
all
Book VII. POLTMNIA 223
all the Efforts of the Invader. For when the
Deputies of the Athenians went to confult the
Oracle on their Part, and had perform'd the
ufual Ceremonies, they fat down in the Sandlu-
ary and receiv'd this Anfwer from the Pythian,
whofe Name was Ariftonica,
FLTto the fartheft Regions of the Earthy
Unhappy Men^ and Jhiin the impending 111.
Fly front your Houfes^ and defert your IValh *,
For total Ruin Jh all fuhvert that Place.
An angry Mars, in Afia horn^ Jhall come.
And all your fiaiely Piles^ and temples burn,
I fee the facred Walls tretnhling for Fear.,
^he lofty Roofs cover'd with Sweat and Blood,
Depart , and he prepared to hear your Fate,
Thefe menacing Words put the Athenians, who
came to confult the Oracle, into a great Con-
fternation : And while they were difcourfing
together concerning this difmal Anfwer, Ti-
mon the Son of Androhulus^ a Man of princi-
pal Authority in Delphi^ counfei'd them to
return and confult the Oracle again in the
humblelt manner, with Olive-Branches in their
Hands. The Athenians were eafily perfuad*
ed to follow his Advice ; and returning ac-
cordingly, addrefs'd the God in thefe Words
" O King, vouchfafe to give us an Anfwer
" more favourable to our Country *, and fliew
** feme Regard to thefe Branches, which we
" hold in our Hands : Otherwife we will ne-
" ver depart from this Place, but v/ill remain
*' here till we die." After which Prayer
the Prieflefs gave a fecond Anfwer in thefe
lerms
PALLAS
224 HERODOTUS.
PALLAvS in vain has us*d her utmoft Art,
^0 pacify the Wrath of angry Jove.
So that my prefent Anfwer muft again.
Of almojl Adamantin Hardnefs he.
Tet for Miner va'j Jake the God will give
A fafe TroteElion under IValls of Wood,
^0 all that lies contained within the Bounds
Of Cecrops, or Qhhtron^s f acred Hills,
^hefe., thefe alone impregnable Jh all prove*
But never flay to fight the dreadful 'Troops
Of Horfe and Foot^ advancing thro' the Plains:
Jf e'er you fee them, Jave y our j elves by Flight.
The divine Sal a m is ^^// lofe her Sons ;
Tho^ Ceres be brought Home, or left Abroad.
The Athenians rightly judging this Anfwer to
be more moderate than the former, wrote down
the Words, and departed for Athens: Where
when they were arriv'd, and had acquainted
the People with all that had pafs*d, many diffe-
rent Opinions arofe about the Meaning of the
Oracle : But I fhall mention only fuch as ob-
tain'd the greateft Credit. Some of the old
Men thought the God had declared, that the
Acropolis (hould remain fafe ; becaufe that
Fortrefs had been formerly encompafs'd with
a Circumvallation *, which they fuppos'd to
be meant by the wooden Wall. Others faid,
that nothing but Ships could pofilbly be under-
flood by that ExprelTion ; and therefore ad-
vis'd, that omitting all other Defigns, they
would apply thcmlclves to prepare a Fleet:
Neverthelefs this Opinion feem'd to be over-
thrown by the two laft Verfcs pronounc'd by
the Pythian.
THE
BookVir. POLTMNIA. 225
^he Divine Silamis /hall lofe her Sons^
. fbo' Ceres he brought home^ or left abroad,
Thefe Lines, I fay, confounded the Sentiment
of thofe, who faid, that Ships only could be
meant by Walls of Wood : And the Interpre-
ters of Oracles declared themfelves of opinion^
that their Fleet (hould be defeated in a Sea-
fight, upon the Coaft o^ Sal amis.
THERE had lately appeared among the
mod eminent Athenians, a certain Ferfon,
whofe Name was Theyniftocles *, but commonly
caird the Son of Neocles. He maintain'd, that
the Interpreters had not rightly underltood the
Senfe of the Oracle; becaufe, if the Pre-
didion had contain'd fuch a Meaning, the God
would certainly have ufed a harder ExprefBon 5
and in his Anfwer have inferted, iht Unhappy
Salamis, inftead of the Divine Salamis, had
the Inhabitants of that Place been deftin'd to
Deftru(5lion : And therefore, that all thofe, who
would judge rightly, ought to conclude, that
the Oracle was not intended againfl the Athe-
nians, but againft their Enemies, For this
reafon he advis'd them to prepare their Na-
val Forces •, which he faid, were really the
Walls of IVood. The Athenians, convinced by
thefe Reafons, preferred the Opinion of nerni-
ftocles before that of the Interpreters, who dif-
fuaded them from making any Preparations for
the Sea, and exhorted them not to refifl: the
Enemy at all ; but to abandon Attica, and de-
part to another Country. In this Conjundture,
the Counfel which Themijlocles had formerly
given, prov'd highly advantageous : For when
Vol, II. P ihc
226 H E R 0 V 0 ru S.
the Athenians, finding their Treafury en-
rich'd by the Profits they receiv'd from the
Mines of Laureus^ had refolv'd to make a
Dividend of ten Drachmas to every Citizen,
not under Age, they were diverted from that
Refolution by the Remonftrances of Themi-
JiocleSy and perfuaded to lay out the Money
in building two hundred Ships, to be em-
ployed againfl: the ^ginetes. One may juftly
fay, that War fav'd Gr^r^, by necefTitatingthe
Athenians to apply themfelves to maritime Af-
fairs. And though the Ships I mention'd
were not ufed at that time, yet now they were
of fingular advantage : For they were ready to
put to fea on this Occafion, and only needed a
farther Reinforcement. Which, having well con-
fidered, the Athenians, by common confent, and
in obedience to the Oracle, refolv'd, That all
who were able to bear Arms, fhould go on
board their Ships, and, with fuch of the Gre-
cians as would join them, wait the Approach of
the Enemy. In purfuance of this Refolution,
thofe Grecians, who had the Safety of Gr^^r^ at
heart, met together ; and entering into mutual En-
gagements of Fidelity to one another, agreed,
before all other things, to forget all former En-
mities and Differences -, for even among thefe
divers Wars were then a£luaily on Foot, though
none fo confiderable as that of the Athenians
againft the iEginetes. After this Confultation,
being informed of the King's Arrival at Sardii
with his Army, they determined to fend feme
Perfons into Jfia^ in order to difcover the true
State of his Affairs ; and to difpatch others to
Argos^ to engage the Argians in an Alliance
againft the Perfians, They alfo refolv'd to fend
an
Book VII. POLTMNIA. 227
an EmbafTy to Gelon the Son of Dino?nenes, the
Sicilian ; becaufe they had heard, that his
Power was great, and his Forces little in-
feriour to any of the Grecians. With the
fame Intention, they agreed to fend Mcfiftn-
gers to the Corcyr^ans and Cretans, rha:, as
far as might be, the whole Body of the Gre-
cians might be united, and unanimoufly concur
in the defence of the common Caufr'. Having
taken thefe Refolutions, and promifed to lay
down their mutual Animofities, they fent three
Men for Spies into ^/la \ who arriving at Sar-
dis, and endeavouring to get intelligence of the
King's ForLCS, were feiz'd by the Gint^rais of
his Army ; and, after they had fuftcr^d the
Torture, condemned to die. But when Xerxes
heard of this Proceeding, he difapproved the
A6tion, and immediatlyfent fome of his Guards
with Orders to bring them to him, if they were
not already put to death. The Guards obey'd ;
and finding the Men yet living, brought them
before the King: where, after they had ac-
quainted him with the Caufe of their coming,
he commanded the fame Perfons to fhew them
all his Forces, both of Horfe and Foot, and
afterwards to permit them to go away quietly
to whatever Country they fhould chufe. This
he did from an Opinion, that if the Spies were
put to death, the Grecians would neither be
inform*d, that his Preparations were yet greater
than Fame had publifhed, nor fuffer any con-
fiderable Damage by the Lofs of three Men :
whereas, if they were allow'd to return to
Greece^ he doubted not that the Grecians, hearing
of his numerous Forces, would furrender them-
fdves and their Liberty to his Mercy, before he
P 2 ihould
228 HERODOTUS.
ihould invade their Country ^, and by that
means, fave him the trouble of Compulfion.
This Opinion of Xerxes was not unlike another
Thought he had at Jbydus'r where he faw cer-
tain Ships laden with Corn, coming from the
Euxine Sea, and failing through the Hellefpnt
to jE^inUy and to Peloponnefus. For when thofe
about him were inform*d that the Veficls be-
long'd to the Enemy, and fix'd their Eyes upon
the King, in expectation to receive his Orders
for feizing them, Xerxes ask'd to what part they
were bound •, and underftanding they had Corn
on board for his Enemies, he faid, "Arc not
" we alfo going to the fame Place, where thefe
** Men are bound? And are we not obliged, a-
*' mong other things, to carry Corn with us?
*« What hurt then can they do us, by carrying
*' Corn thither, which mult be ours?
WHEN the Spies had feen all the King's
Forces, they were difmifled: And after theii
Return to Europe^ the Grecians, who had en-
gaged in a Confederacy againfl the Perfian, fent
a fecond Embafly to Argos 5 of which the Ar-
gians gave the following account : That having
receiv'd early notice of the Barbarians Defign
againft Gr^^ri?,and not doubting that theGrecians
would ask their Afliftance among the reft, tho'
they had lately loft fix thoufand Men, kill'd by
the Lacedemonians, under the Condudl of Ck-
omenes the Son of Anaxandrides^ they fent to
inquire of the Oracle of Delphi^ what meafures
they fliould take in this Conjunfture ; and that
the Anfwer they had from the Pythian, was in
theie Terms;
By
Book VII. POL TMNIA. 229
B'j Neighbours hated^ hy the Gods helov*d^
Reft quiet, and from all Engagements free :
Preferve the Head^ for that fh all jave the reft.
That after they had receiv'd this Anfwer, the
AmbafTadors arriving at Argos ^ were intro-
duc'd into the Senate ; and when they had
delivered their Meflage, the Argians an-
fwer'd. That they were ready to comply on
their part, and to that end would be willing
to make a Truce with the Lacedemonians for
thirty Years, provided they might have an e-
qual (hare v^ith them in the command, though
they might juftly pretend to the whole. This,
they fay, was the Anfwer of their Senate,
flotwithftanding the Pythian had forbidden
them to enter into any Confederacy with the
Grecians: And therefore they took care to
infift upon a truce of thirty Years, out of a
juft Apprehenfion of the confequences of the
Oracle ; that their Children might become
Men, before the Expiration of that time, and,
if they fhould receive another Blow in the
Perfian War, be able to preferve their Coun-
try from falling into the hands of the Lace-
demonians. To thefe Propofitions of the Se-
nate, the Spartans anfwer'd. That the Queftion
about a Truce fhould be referr'd to the People :
but as to the leading of the Forces, they were
inllrudled to put them in mind, that they had
two Kings ; whereas the Argians had only one ;
and that they could not confent to deprive
either of their Kings of his Power \ yet v/ould
not hinder the ArgidU King from having a Voice
in all Deliberations. Upon which, the Argians
P 3 faid.
230 HERODOTUS.
faid, They could no longer bear the Arro-
gance of the Spartans, but would rather chufc
to be fubjedl to the Barbarians, than to yield
the Superiority to them *, adding that the
Ambaflfadors fliould depart out of the Terri-
tories of Jrgos before the fetting of the Sun,
under the Penalty of being treated as Ene-
rnies. Thus the Argians relate the Succefs of
this EmbafTy: but a quite different Report is
current in other Parts of Greece: For they fay,
That before Xer:>ies began to advance with his
Army againft the Grecians, he fent a Herald
to Jrgos with a Meflage conceiv'd in thefe
Terms; " Men of Jrgos^ we are well in-
formed, th^t Perfes, oneof our Progenitors,
was Son to Perfeus the Son ofDanaa;^ by Jn-
dro?neda, the Daughter of Cepbeus *, and there-
fore as we derive our Original from you,
we ought not to lead an Army againft the
Country of our Fathers : nor fhould you ap-
pear in Arms againft us, to gratify other Men;
but rather chufing to enjoy the Benefit of
Peace, continue quiet in your own Habita-
tions : Which if you do, and I fucceed ac-
cording to my Expedation, no People Ihall
have a greater part in my Efteem, than you."
The Argians not a little pleas'd with this Mef-
fage, kept the thing private, and faid nothing
of the Competition at that time : But when the
Grecians would have taken them into the Con-
federacy, they demanded an equal fhare of the
Supreme Command, which they knew the Lace-
demonians would never grant ; that they might
have a Pretext for refufing to enter into the War,
Which Condu6t of the Argians, is not unlike
^hat happened many Years after, if we may
beieve
BookVIi. POLTMNIA. 231
Ifciieve fome of the Grecians : For while Callias
riie Son of Hipponicus^ with other ilmbafTadors
of the Athenians, were treating certain Af-
fairs at Sufa, the Argians fent an EmbaiTy
likewife to the fame Place, with O.-ders to
demand of Artaxerxes^ the Son of XerxeSy whe-
ther he would obferve the Alliance they had
with his Father •, or v/hether he accounted
them his Enemies. Artaxerxes anfwer'd, That
he undertlood their antient Alliance to be flill
in force, and that he had no better Friends
than the Argians. But I cannot affirm with
certainty, either that Xerxes fent fuch a Mef-,
fage to Argos^ or that the AmbalTadors of the
Argians went to Sufa to continue their Al-
liance with Artaxerxes: And am inclined ra-
ther to believe the Report of the Argians them-
felves. Only this I know, That if all Men were
to bring together their dom.eftic Difgraces into
one place, in order to make an Exchange with
their Neighbours, they would no fooner have
infpeded thofe of others, than they would be
mod willing to return home with their own.
And therefore I cannot think that the Argians
behav'd themfelves fo ill, as fome are ready to
imagine. However, I am obiig'd to relate what
is faid, though I am not obiig'd to believe every
thing without Diftinclion *, which I defire may
be confider'd in all the Courfe of this Hiftory :
For the Argians are likewife charg'd with hav-
ing invited the Perfian into Greece, thinking
any Change more tolerable than the miferable
Condition, to which they had been reduc'd,
by their ill Succefs in the War againft the Lace-.
demonians.
P ± IN
232 HERODO'TUS.
I N the mean time, the AmbaiTadors of xh^
aflbciated Gx^'ecians arriv'd in Sicily^ to confer
with Gelon ; and among them, Syagrtis on the
part of the Lacedemonians. Oecelor, one of Ge-
lon\ Anceftors, born in the Ifland Telus^ which
lies over againft ^rioptum^ left his Country,
and came to inhabit in Gela, But when Antio-
f hemes and the Lyndians of Rhodes^ pofieflTed
themfelves of that City, they would not per-
mit him to continue among them : Yet, in fuc-
ceeding time, his Poftericy became Priefts of
the infernal Gods ; which Dignity was firft
acquired by Telines, one of his Defcendants.
For when fome of the Inhabitants of Gelav^txt
expelled in a Sedition, and had retir'd to the
City of MaElonm^ above Gela^ 'Telines condudled
them back again by the Power of his Funflion,
without any human AiTiftance ; though, where
he had thefe lacred things, or whether he really
had them or not, is altogether unknov/n to me.
However, in confidence of his Authority, he
brought them home to Gela^ on condition, that
the Priefthood of the infernal Gods fhould con-
tinue in his Defcendants. Neverihelefs, I admire
among other things, how Telines could fucceed
in fo great an Enterprize *, fince fuch Attempts
being above the reach of ordinary Men, feem
only referv'd for fagacious and daring Spirits:
Whereas on the contrary, the Inhabitants of «Sf-
xily fliy, he was an effeminate Perfon, without
any Virtue or Courage •, and yet attain'd to this
Dignity by thefe means. Upon the Death of
Cleander the Pacarean, who was kill'd by Sahyllus
of Gela^ after he had reign'd feven Years, his
Brother Hippocrates took upon him the Govern-
rnentof Gf/tf: During whgfe Reign, ilvsGeloJh
who
Book VII. POLTMNIA. 233
who was defcended from felines the Pried,
became famous ; together with many others,
cfpecially JEnefidemus^ the Son of Patakusy
one of the Guards of Hippocrates, and after-
wards made General of the Horfe, on account
of his Valour : For in all the Wars made by
Hippocrates againil: the Callipolitans, the Naxians,
the Zanclaeans, the Leontins, and the Syra-
cufians, befides divers Barbarian Nations, Ge-
Ion fignaliz'd himfelf by the Glory of his Ac-
tions ; and was fo fuccefsful, that all thofe
People, except the Syracufians, fell into the
power of Hippocrates, But the Corinthians and
Corcyrasans fav'd the Syracufians, after they
had been defeated upon the River Florus -, yet
with this Condition, That they fliould furren-
der Camarina to Hippocrates^ which they had al-
ways poiTeffed to that time. When Hippocrates
had reigned as many Years as his Brother Clean-
der, he died at the Siege of Hybla, carrying on
the War againft the Sicilians. Upon which,
Gelon, under colour of defending the Rights of
Euclides and Cleander, the Sons of Hippocrates^
againft their Subjeds, who would no longer
obey, defeated the Geleans ; and having exclu-
ded the young Men, poflefTed himfelf of the
Tyranny. After this Succefs, undertaking to
reftore fome Syracufians, who were call'd Ga-
morians, and had been expell'd by the Populace,
and by their own Servants, call'd Cyllirians ;
.he conduced them from Cafmene to Syracufe^
where the Populace, upon his Arrival, put him
into poffefiion of that City. When he faw
himfelf Mafter of Syracufe^ he had little regard
to Gela, and therefore gave that Government to
his Brother //;Vr(?5 r^idiimng Syracufe for himfelf,
which
^34 HERODOruS.
which he efleem'd more than all other Places,
By this means that City in a fhort time attain-
ed to a high degree of Power and Profperity ;
for he deftroyed Camarina^ and transferring
the Inhabitants to Syracufe^ gave them the Pri-
vilege of Citizens ; as he did likewife to more
than one half of the Geleans. He befieg'd
the Megareans, who had fettled in Sicily^ and
having oblig'd them to furrender their City,
he contented himfelf to remove the molt weal-
thy of the Inhabitants to Syracufe^ and con-
ferr'd the fame Privileges on them alfo, though
they expe6led nothing lefs than Death, be-
caufe they had been the Authors of the War
againft him. But he dealt otherwife with
the Megarean Plebeians ; and albeit they had
no part in promoting the War againft him,
nor expected to fuffer any Detriment on that
account, he fold them in Syracufe ; with ex-
prefs Condition, that they fhould be tranf-
ported out of Sicily. He treated the Eubos-
ans of that Ifland in the fame manner, and
made the fame Diftin6lion among the Inhabi-
tants of both Places, out of an opinion, that
a Populace is not eafily governed. And by
thefe means the Power of Gelon was grown for=
midable.
WHEN therefore the Ambafllidors of the
Grecians were arriv'd m Syracufe, and introduc'd
into the Prefence o^ Gelon ^ they deliver'd their
MefTage in thefe Terms : " The Lacedemonians
*' and their Allies have fent us hither, to defire
'' you to enter into their Confederacy againft a
*' Barbarian King : For doubtlefs you have heard
*' that a Perfian is come to invade Greece: that
^' he has laid a Bridge over the Hellefpont, and
I '' brings
Book VII. P O LTM N 1 A, 235
«« brings with him all the Eaftern Nations of
*' Afia^ under colour indeed of making war
« againfl the Athenians, but really defigning
« to fubdue all the Grecians. You therefore,
<' who have fo great power, and poirefs fo
" confiderable a part of Greece^ by being the
♦« principal Potentate of «S/V//);, afTift thofe, who
M would preferve Greece from Servitude, and
" concur with them in maintaining the ccm-
*« mon Liberty. If the Grecians will be una-
^« nimous on this Occafion, we fhall make up
<« a formidable Force, fufficient to refift the
«« Invader : But if fome of us fhould betray
" the publick Caufe, and others refufe to give
<« their afTiftance, the found and honeft part of
«' Greece mult of neceffity be reduc'd to fo
^' fmall a number, that the Whole would be
'' in danger of utter Ruin. Flatter not your-
*« felf, as if the Perfian will fpare you, after
" he fhall have conquer'd us -, think rather by
*' proper means how to prevent the Mifchief,
<' and to preferve your own, by alTifting us :
" For Enterprizes founded upon prudent
*' Counfels, are generally attended with prof-
*' perous Succefs." After the Ambafladors
had thus fpokcn, Gelon^ with fome Emotion,
roughly anfwered : " Men of Greece^ your
Prefumption is greater than ordinary, to
defire me to take part with you, againfl:
" the Barbarian, becaufe you denied me your
" afuftance in former Occafions. V/hen 1 im-
" plored your Succour againfl: the Barbarian
" Army of the Carthaginians, and requefled
'' you to avenge the Death of Dorieus^ the Son
" oi Anaxandrides^ upon the iEgeftans, youre-
f' fus'd both j and would neither help me in
*^ my
236 HERODOTUS.
my Neceflity, nor revenge the Death of
Borieus, though at the fame time I offered
you my Affiftance to reftore the Liberty of
thofe Ports, to which you trade with great
advantage. So that I am no way oblig'd
to you, if all 1 poflefs be not now in the
power of Barbarians. But becaufe my Af-
fairs have fucceeded better, and the War
is at laft brought home to your own Coun-
try, you will now condefcend to remember
Gdon. Neverthelefs, though you treated
me with Contempt, J (hall not imitate your
Example : On the contrary, I am ready to
fupply you with two hundred Gallies, twen-
ty-thoufand Men compleatly armed, two
thoufand Horfe, two thoufand Bow men,
two thoufand Slingers, and two thoufand
Light-horfe. I will likewife undertake to
furnifh the v/hole Grecian Army with Corn
during all the time of the War. But I can-
not engage to perform thefe things, unlefs
I may be General of the Grecians : Neither
will I appear in the Field, nor fend any
Succour to Greece, except only on that Con-
dition." Syagrus hearing thefe Words with
Qipacience, cry'd our ; '^ How would y^ga-
7nemnon, the Son ofPeiop^ grieve, to hear that
the Spartans had yielded the Supreme Com-
mand to Geio^, and to the Syracufians? For-
bear to mention this Propofition again -, and if
you are willing to fuccour Greece, refolve to
march under the Condudl of the Lacedemo-
nians ; or, if you difdain to obey their Orders,
we will not accept your AfTiftance.'* Gelon
finding Syagrus averfe to his Defign, made ano-
ther Propofiiion m thefe Tennis -, '' Spartan
*' Friend,
Book VII. POL TMNIA. 2 37
*' Friend, faid he^ though injurious Language
*< has a natural Tendency to raife the Indig-
«' nation of Men, yet I (hall not retaliate that
" which I have received from you, in the fame
kind. Neverthelefs, fince you fo pafTionately
afFed: the Supreme Command, I cannot for-
bear to tell you, that I might with more
Juftice pretend to that Honour, becaufe I
have a far greater number than you, both
of Ships and Land-Forces. However, fee-
ing you are fo averfe to the Propofition I
made, I fhall abate fomething of my firfl:
Pretenfions. If then you chufe to command
the Army by Land, I will have the Condudt
of the Fleet : or, if you had rather command
at Sea, I will be General of the Land-For-
ces. One of thefe Conditions you muft be
contented to accept, or refolve to return
" home without obtaining any Afliftance from
'^ me." When Gelon had made this Offer,
the Ambafiador of the Athenians, preventing
the Lacedemonian, reply'd in thefe Words ;
" King of Syacufe^ the Grecians have fenc
us to you, not to defire a General, but an
Army. On the other hand, you tell us, you
will fend none of your Forces, unlefs you
may be General of Greece j which you feem
to afFedt extremely. We faid nothing to
the Demand you made, of commanding all
the Forces of Greece^ becaufe we refolv'd to
** content ourfelves with the Anfwer of the
" Spartan Ambafiador, which we knew would
« in that Particular be fufEcient for us both.
But becaufe, fince your Exclufion from the
whole Command you have thought fit to
require the Generalfhip of the Sea, we muft
4 " inform
((
<(
((
(C
(C
i(
cc
cc
(C
238 HERODOTUS.
*' inform you, that though the Lacedemonians
*' fhould be willing to comply with your De-
*' mand, the Athenians will never confenc to
give you fuch a Power : For the Honour of
that Command belongs to us, unlefs the
'' Lacedemonians themfelves will take it. If
they have that intention, we fhall not oppofe
their D fign, but we will never yield the
Preeminence to any other. In vain fhould
we poflefs the greatefl Naval Forces of all
*' the Grecians, if we fliould fufFer ourfelves
to be commanded by the Syracufians : we,
who are Athenians, the moft antient People
of Greece^ and the only Nation of thofe Parts
cc
^zf^/j, is, inthenar-
roweft part, no more than fifty foot in breadth:
And yet this Paffage is wider than thofe that lie
before and behind 'Thermopyle, For the way is fo
narrow near Alpeni^ which is fituate on the far-
Q^ 4 iher
248 HERODOTUS.
ther Mto^Tbermopyle^ that a Chariot can hard-
ly pafs: Nor is the other wider, which lies on
this fide, near the City of Anthela^ and the Ri-
ver Phcenix. Thermopyle is bounded on the Weft
by a high and inacceflible Mountain, furrounded
with Precipices, and extends to iVlount Oeta \
and on the Ea(l by the Sea, and by an imprac-
ticable Morafs. Within this Paff^ge are Baths
of hot Water to which the Inhabitants give
the Name of Cauldrons •, and above thefe there is
an Altar confccrated to Hercules* The Pho-
casans formerly built a Wall with Gates, to fe-
cure the Pafsagainft the Thefialians -y who hav-
ing abandon'd ^befprotia, came to fettle in that
part of yEolia which they now pofiefs. By this
means, and by letting in the hot W^aters, to
render the v/ay impaflable, they defended them-
felves againft the Attempts of the Thefialians,
and omitted nothing that might prevent them
from making Incurfions into their Country. But
becaufe, thro' Length of Time, the greater part
of this Wall was fallen down, the Grecians
thought fit to rebuild ir, and refolved to defend
the Pafs againft the Irruption of the Barbarian:
reckoning to be fupply'd with Provifions from
jilpeni, which was nearer than any other Place.
Thus the Grecians having diligently weigh'dall
Circumftances, and maturely confider'd what
means might be more effedual to render ufelefs
the great numbers of the Barbarian Forces, both
of Horfe and Foot, determined to expedl the
coming of the Enemy in this Poft •, and were no
fooner informed that the Perfian Army was ad-
vanced to Pieria, than breaking up from the
Ifthmus, the Land- Forces march'd away to
Thermopyley and the Fleet made towards Jrtemi-
fium.
Book VII. POLTMNIA. 249
Jium. But whilft the Grecians afiembled from
all Parts to defend the comnnon Caufe, accord-
ing to the Meafures they had concerted, the
Delphians, terrified by the Dangers impending
orer themfelves and the refl of Greece^ confulted
the Oracle, and received for Anfwer, " That
«' they fhould addrefs their Prayers to the
" Winds, which would be the moft (Irenuous
'« Defenders of Gr(?^r^." This Admonition they
prefently communicated to the confederated
Grecians, who being defirous to preferve their
Liberty, receiv'd the good News v/ith great
Joy, becaufe they were under terrible Appre-
henfions of the Barbarian Army. After that the
Delphians ereded an Altar, and ofFer'd Sacrifi-
ces to the Winds in Th'ja : which Place was fo
called from n^a, the Daughter of Cephyjfus^
who has a Temple there. And thefe Sacrifices
to the Winds are to this day celebrated by the
Delphians, in obedience to that Oracle.
I N the mean time the naval Forces of Xer-
xes departing from "Therma^ detach'd ten of the
nimblefl VcfTels of the Fleet to the Ifland of
ScyathuSj where three Grecian Ships lay for a
Guard: one of which was of Trcezene, another
of ^gina, and a third of Attica. The Grecians
feeing the Barbarian Ships advancing, betook
themfelves to flight ; but the Enemy chacing,
foon became Maders of the Troezenian Ship,
which was commanded by Praxims-, and bring-
ing out the flouteft Man of her Company, killed
him upon the Deck : in this manner lacrificing
the mofl valiant of thofe they firft conquered,
for a Pledge of their future SuccefTes. The
name of the Man was Leon ; but his Fortune
was not anfwerable to his Name. They met
4 with
250 HERODOTUS. k
with more difficulty in taking the Ship ol
jEgina, which was commanded by Afonidss.
For PytbeaSj the Son of Ifchenous^ diftinguiihing
himfelf on that occafion, continued to make
refiftance after the Ship was taken \ till co-
vered with the number of his Wounds, he
fainted and fell. But the Perfians, who took
the Ship, perceiving him flill to breathe, and
admiring his Valour, took all poffible care to
preferve his Life, by applying Balfams to his
Wounds, and binding them with Bandages of
the fineft Linen. At their return they fhewM
him with aftonifiiment to the whole Army,
and gave him all manner of good Ufage, tho'
they treated the reft of the Prifoners as Slaves.
Thus thefe two Ships were taken : whilft the
other, which was commanded by Phirmus an
Athenian, made away to the Mouth of the
River Feneus^ where fhe fell into the hands of
the Barbarians, after the Men had fav'd them-
felves afhore. For they had no fooner run the
Ship aground, than they abandoned her ; and
taking their way thro' 'TheJJal'^^ arrived fafcly in
Athens. ''■
WHEN the Grecians, who had their Sta-
tion at Artemifium^ receiv'd the News of this
Lofs, they fell into fo great a Confternation,
that they retir'd to Chalcis, in order to defend
the Pafiage of the Etiripus, and plac'd Guards
by day on the principal Eminences of Euhcsa,
On the other hand the Barbarians, with three
of the ten Ships, advancing to the Rocks
which lie between Scyathus aad Magnefia-^ went
up, and ereded a Pillar of Stone for a Monu-
ment of their Succefs. In the mean time the
Enemy's Fleet having fpent eleven days in
X their
Book VII. POL rUNIA. 251
their Voyage from "Therma^ after the time of
the King's Departure, arriv'd on this CoafV,
conduced through the Dangers of the Rocks
by Pammon of Scjrus. From thence, in one day
they failed along the Coaft of Magnefta ; and
having doubled the Cape of Sepias^ came to an
Anchor in the Road between that Promontory
and the City of Cafthancea. To this Place, and
to Thermopyle, the Armies of Xerxes advancM
without lofs, and, as I am informed, their
Numbers were thus computed. The Ships
that came from Jfia amounted to one thoufand
two hundred and feven i which, at the time
of their Departure, had on board two hun-
dred forty one thoufand four hundred Men
of various Nations, allowing two hundred to
each Ship, befides thirty Perfians, Medes, or
Saces, who, computed together, made up thir-
ty fix thoufand two hundred and ten Men
more. To thefe Numbers I muft add thofc
that were on board the lefTer VelTels, which,
as I have already faid, amounted to three
thoufand : and accounting eighty Men to each,
they will be found to have been two hun-
dred and forty thoufand : So that the whole
Naval Force, that arrived from y^fia, was com-
pofed of five hundred and feventeen thoufand,
fix hundred and ten Men. The Land-Army
confifted of feventeen hundred thoufand Foot,
and fourfcore thoufand Horfe ; befides the
Arabians mounted on Camels, and the Liby-
ans in Chariots ; who, as I conjedure, might
amount to about twenty thoufand more. In
a word, the number of thefe Forces, that
v;ere levied in ^fta, and employ'd either in
the Fleet, or by Land, was two Millions
three
252 HERODOTUS.
three hundred and feventeen thoufand fix
hundred and ten Men ; not including their
Train of Servan'is, nor thofe who were on
board the Ships that carried Provifions. To
thef-:" mail be added, the Forces that were rais'd
in Europe *, which I fhall do according to the
belt Informatioa I have been able to procure.
The Grecians of Thrace^ and the Iflands adja-
cent furniihed one hundred and twenty S ips,
which had on board twenty four thoufand
Men. The Thracians, Pasonians, Eordians,
Boctiseans, Chalcidians, Brygians, Pierians, Ma-
cedonians, Periebians, Enians, Dolopians, Mag-
nefians, and Achaians, together with thofe who
inhabit the maritime Parts of Thrace^ fent fuch
a number of Land- Forces, as, in my opinion,
were not lefs than three hundred thoufand. So
that if we add thefe Myriads, to thofe that
were levied in Afia^ we fhall find in ali, two
Millions fix hundred forty one thoufand fix
hundred and ten fighting Men. Ncverthelefs,
though thefe Numbers are fo prodigioufly great,
I am perfuaded that the Servdnt*;, with thofe
on board the Score-Ships and Tenders, were
yet more numerous. But fuppofing them only
equAl in number, and not more nor kfs than
the military Part, the total Sum will amount to
five Millions two hundred fourfcore and three
thoufand, two hundred and twenty Men, brought
by Xerxes^ the Son of Darius^ io Sepias^ and lo
Thermopyle. Such was the number of tnis Army !
But the Women that ferv'd for Concubines, and
Makers of Bread, the Eunuchs, Draught Hor-
fes, and other Beafts of Burden, with the In-
dim Dogs that followed the Forces, were fo
many, that no Man can affirm any thing with
certainty
Book VII. POLTMNIA. 253
certainty touching their Numbers. Therefore
I am not aftonifhed, if the Screams of fome Ri»
vers prov'd infufficienc for this Multitude ; but
rather, how fo many Myriads were fupplied
with Provifions: For allowing only a Choenix
of Wheat by day to each Man, the Total will
amount to one hundred and ten thoufand,
three hundred and forty Mines, confumed eve-
ry day \ without including the Food of the
Women, the Eunuchs, the Cattel, and the
Dogs. But of all this prodigious Number,
no Man, either for Stature or Beauty, feem'd
more worthy to command, than Xerxes him-
felf.
WHEN the Fleet arriv'd in the Road that
lies between the City oi Cafthancea and the Pro-
montory of Sepias^ on the Coaft of Magnefia^ the
foremoft Ships were rang'd clofe by the Land.
But becaufe the Shoar was not fufficiently capa-
cious to contain their Numbers, all the red were
oblig'd to ride at Anchor ; and to that end,
ha\;ing turn'd the Heads of their Ships to the
Sea, they form'd eight feveral Lines, one behind
another •, and in that Pofture pafs'd the Night.
The next Morning at day-break, after a ferene
Sky and ftill Weather, the Sea began to rife, and
a terrible Storm enfued, with a violent North-
Eaft-Wind, which, by the Inhabitants of that
Coaft, is called Hellefpontin. Thofe who per-
ceived the Wind increafing, and were not hin-
dered by their Station, prevented the Mifchiefs
of the Tempeft \ and haling under the Shore, fav'd
themfclves and their Ships: But of thofe who
were furpriz'd out at Sea, fome were driven
into the Gulphs of Pelion-, others were forc'd
aground ; fome fpilt upon the Promontory of
Sefias i
254 HERODOTUS.
Sepias ; fome bulg'd upon the Shallows of Me-
libcsay and others near the City of Cafthancea :
So intolerable was the Violence of the Storm,
The Report is, that the Athenians having been
admonifhed by another Oracle, to implore the
Afliftance of their Son-in-law, addrefled them-
felves to Boreas: who, according to the Tra-
dition of the Grecians^ niarry'd Orithyay a Wo-
man ofJliicay and Daughter to Erechtheus, On
that account, they fay, the Athenians were
perfuaded of their Relation to Boreas ; and
therefore, while they lay at Chalets in Euhcsa
with their Fleet, both before and after they
perceiv*d the Storm, they offer'd Sacrifices to
Boreas and Orithya^ invoking their Aid, and pray-
ing that they would deftroy the Barbarian Ships,
as they had done before at Mount Jlbos. For
my own part, I fhall not undertake to fay, that
their Prayers prevailed with Boreas to fall upon
the Barbarians in this Station : But the Athe-
nians fay, that this and the former Aid they
receiv'd, were both owing to Boreas ; and there-
fore, at their Return, they built him a Temple
upon the River Ilijfus. In this Di fader the
Barbarians, according to the moft moderate
Computation, loll four hundred Ships, befides
great numbers of Men, and infinite Riches;
which prov'd afterwards of great advantage to
Aminocles^ the Son of Cretinus. For afterwards
breaking up fome Ground about Sepias, he
found many Cups, and other Veffels both of
Gold and Silver, with fo great a Treafure be-
longing to the Perfians, that he prefently be-
came extremely opulent ; though in other things
he was unfortuntate, and much afHidled for the
untimely Death of his Children. The Store-
Ships
Book VII. POL TMNIA, 255
Ships and other VelTels caft away in the Storm,
were fo many, that the Commanders, fearing
to be attack'd by the ThefTalians after this
Difafter, fortified themfelves with a Ramparc
of a confiderable height, compofed of the bro-
ken Pieces of the Wreck. Three whole Days
the Tempeft continued *, but on the fourth after
the Mages had immolated the Vidims appro-
priated to the infernal Powers, and endeavoured
to charm the Winds by Enchantments, they
facrificed to 'Thetis^ and to the Nereides, and
laid the Storm : or perhaps the Wind fell of
courfe, as at other times. They facrificed to
thefe Deities, becaufe they had learnt from the
lonians, that Thetis was taken away by Peleus
out of this Country, and that all the Coaft of
Sepias is dedicated to her, and to the reft of
the Nereides. Thus the Tempeft ceafed on the
fourth day.
BUT thofe who had been left to obferve
from the Eminences of Euhcea^ what fliould
pafs within their View, came running on the
fecond Day after the rifing of the Storm, and
acquainted the Grecians with this Shipwreck :
Which when they had heard, they pour'd out
a Libation with Thankfgiving, to Neptune the
Deliverer, and immeci ucly fet fail for Arte-
mifium^ hoping they (hould not find many of the
Enemies Ships on that Coaft. Thus arriving
a fecond time at Arte?mfium^ they came to an
anchor: And ever fince, even to this day, have
given to thpiune the Sirname of the 'Deliverer.
On the other hand, the Barbarians feeing the
Storm blown over, and the Sea quiet, weigh'^d
their Anchors ; and coafting along the Shore
of the Continent, paiTed the Promontory of
Mainefia^
^56 HERODOTUS.
Magnefia^ and flood into the Bay of Pegafcsd,
*Tis reported, that in one part of the Country,
adjacent to this Bay, Hercules was abandon*d by
Jafon and his Companions, whilfl: he went to
take in frefh Water for the Voyage they de-
fign'd to Aia in Colchis, for the Golden Fleece;
and that the Place goes by the Name of Aphete^
on account of this Adion, Into that Station
the Perfian Fleet retir'd : But fifteen of their
Ships, which put to Sea fome time after the
refl, feeing the Grecians about Artemifium, and
thinking they were Friends, fell in among their
Enemies. The Barbarians were commanded
by Sandoces, the Son of Thaumafiusj Governouf
of C'jtne, an ^olian City. He had been for-
merly condemned by Darius to be crucified,
for taking a Bribe to pronounce an unjuft Sen-
tence, when he was one of the Royal Judges.
But whilfl he was actually hanging on the Crofs,
the King confidering with himfelf, that the
Services he had done to his Family, were great-
er than his Crime, and that his Condemnation
was rather the Etfe6l of PafTion than of Pru-
dence, ordered him to be fet at liberty. In this
manner he efcaped the Punifhment, to which he
had been condemned by Darius: But now fal-
ling in among the Grecians, he found no way
to efcape. For when they faw him making to-
wards them, they prefently perceiv'd the Miflake,
and advancing to meet him, foon made them-
feivcs Maliers of all the Ships. In one of thefe,
AridolisAhc CarianTyrant o^Alahanda^was taken;
and in anocher, Pentfoylus, the Son of DemonOUSy
Commander of the Paphians: He had twelve
Ships when he fa i I'd from Paphos ; but having
loll" eleven in the Storm, he was taken atArlemi-
fium,
Book VII. POLTMNIA. 257
fium^ with only one remaining of that num-
ber. When the Grecians had examin'd the
Prifoners, and made inquiry into fuch things as
they defir'd to know, concerning the Forces of
Xerxes, they fent them away under a Guard
to the Ifthmus of Corinth: The red of the Bar-
barian Fleet, except thefe fifteen Ships, which
were under the Condudl ot Sandcces arriv'd fafe
at Aphete,
IN the mean \\vc\t Xerxes^ with the Land-
Forces, marched from 'Thejffaly^ and advancing
by the way of Acbaia^ arriv'd on the third day
in the Territories of the Melians. In TheJJaly
he made trval of the Swiftnefs of his Mares,
againft thofe of that Country, which he had
heard v/ere the fleeted of all Greece *, and the
Grecian Mires were left far behind in the Race.
Of all the Rivers of'TheJffaly^ only the Onochonus
had not a fufficient Quantity of water for the
Ufe of the Army : whereas the Afidanus^ which
is the greateft River of Achaia^ could hardly
afford enough to fupply their NecefTuies. When
Xerxes arriv'd at Alus in Acha'ia^ his Guides,
who were always ready to inform him of every
thing remarkable, gave him an account of the
Tradition of the Country, concerning the Tem-
ple of the Aphlyfiian Jupiter^ and how Athamas^
the Son of jEoIus^ confpir'd with Inus to take
away the Life of Fhryxus. They told him,
that the Achaians, to punifh his Defcendants,
decreed, by the Counfel of an Oracle, that the
eldeft Perfon of his Race fhould never be per-
mitted to enter into the Senate, which they call
Leitum \ and that, if ever he fhould prefume to
go in, he fhould not go out again, except in
order to be facrific'd : So that many, for fear of
Vol. II. Jl this
258 HERODOTUS.
this Puniihment, chofe rather to abandon the
Country: That in fuccceding time, when any
one of thefe return 'd, and happen'd to be taken
in the Pryianeum, they covered his Body with
facred Fillets, and ltd him out in great Cere-
mony to be facrificed: That the Poller ity of
CyliJforifSy the Son of Phryxiis, became liable to
the fame Punifhment ; becaufe, when the
Achaians, by the Advice of an Oracle, were
ready to expiate this Guilt with the Sacrifice
of Athamas^ the Son of Molm^ Cytijforus arri-
ving in that infbant from Aia in Colchis^ forced
him out of their hands, and by that Adion
drew the Anger of the Gods upon his Defcen-
dants. When Xery.es had heard this Relation;,
and was come to the facred Grove, he not only
left the Place untouched, but commanded all
the Army to follow his Example •, fhewing great
Regard to the Temple of Athamas^ and even
to the Houfes of his PoRerity. Having done
thefe things in Thejfaly and Acbaia, he arriv'd
at the City of Melis^ fituate in a Bay near the
Sea, where the Tides ebb and flow every day.
About this Shore lies a Plain of a confiderable
Breadth in one Part, and very narrow in the
other *, inclos'd by high and inacceffible Moun-
tains, v/hich, furrounding the whole Coun-
try of the Melians, are known by the Name
of the Trachinean Rocks. The firft City
that appears in this Bay, to thofe who come
from Achaia, is Anticyra^ by which the River
Sperchius defcending from Eniene^ falls into
the Sea: And about twenty Stades from thence
another River is feen calTd the Dyras ; which,
they fay, rofe up to fjccour Hercules when he
was ftruggling with the Flames. At a like Di-
ftancc
BookVIL POLTMNIA 259
fiance from this, we meet with the River
Melas ; and five Stades farther, the City of
frachis is built in the mod fpacious Part of all
the Plain -, which in that Place contains two
and twenty thoufand Plethrons in breadth. In
thefe Mountains that furround the Plain, a
PafTage is open on the South fide of TracbiSy
through which the River Afopus runs, at the
foot of the Hills. Another River, not very
large, called the PZ?^;^/;^:, defcending Northward
from the fame Mountains, falls into the Afopus,
The way is fo narrow by the River Phosnix^
that no more than one Chariot can pafs. ^T^^r-
f«i?;))'/ is fifteen Stades beyond that River; and
between both lies the Town of Anthel-a, The
Afi^us pafTes by this Place, and afterwards falJs
into the Sea. The Country about Anthela is
open, and has a Temple dedicated to the Am-
phiiTtyonian Ceres ; in which are the Seats of
the Amphidyons, and the Chapel o^ A?nphi5f'yon
himfelf
THE Perfian King encamped with his Ar-
my in the Plain of Trachis, belonging to the
Melians *, and the Grecians at the Pafs, which^
by the Inhabitants of the Place, and their
Neighbours, is call'd Pyh, and by the greater
part of Greece, Therfnopyle. Xerxes was in pof-
feflion of all the Countries that lie to the
Northward, down to 'Trachis\ and the Gre-
cians of thofe Parts of that Continent, which
lean to the South, and South- Weft, The
Grecians drawn together in this place to fuf-
tain the AfTualc of the Perfian Army, were
thefe: Three hundred Spartans in heavy Ar-
mour; one thoufand Tageans, and a like num-
ber fronn Mantlene : One hundred and twenty
R 2 Ar-
26o HERODOTUS.
Arcadians of Orcbomenus^ and one tbouland more
from the other Farts of Arcadia. Four hundred
Corinthians -, two hundred Men from Pbilius,
and fourfcoie from Mycefte. AH thefe were Pe-
]oponnefians. Of the Boeotians, feven hundred
Thefpians, and four hundred Thebans. Thefe
Grecians invited the Locrians o^ Opus to join
them with all their Forces, and the Phoc^ans
with a thoufand Men ; reprefenting by a Mef-
fage, that they were already arriv'd, and daily
expeded the refb of their Confederates: That
the Sea was fufficiently guarded by the Athe-
nians, the iEginetes, and others, whovv^ereen-
trulled with the Condudl of the Naval Forces^
and that they had nothing to fear : That the In-
vader was not a God, buc a Man ; and that no
Mortal ever was, or ever fhould be born, ex-
empted from the Calamities of Life, which
attend the greateft in the greatell proportion ;
and therefore, the Enemy being no more than
a Man, might find himfelf miftaken in the Opi-
nion he had entertain'd. Perfuaded by this Ex-
hortation, thefe People alfo march'd to aflifl their
Allies in the Country of Trachis. The Nations
that composed thefe Forces had their own parti-
cular Leaders ; but the General, who was in
mofl efteem, and had the command of all, was
Leonidas, a Lacedemonian, the Son of ^;/^^^«-
drides, defcendedfrom Leofjy Eurjcratides^ Anax-
ander, Eurycrates^ PolydoruSy Alcamenes^ Teleclus^
jirchelaus^Ageftlaus^ JDoryagus^ Leoloies^ Echeftra-
tuS'.Hegefis^Euryfibenes^Arifiodemus.AriJlomachus,
CleodcBUS^ Hyllus, and Hercules. He became King
of ^/'^r/^, contrary to his own Expectation : For
during the Lives o^Cleomenes and Dorieus, his el-
der Brothers, he was far from thinking to obtain
the
Book VII. POLTMNIA. 261
the Kingdom. Bat after the Death of Cleomenes^
who left no Son to fucceed him, the Kingdom
defcended to Leonidas ', becaufe Dorieus was
dead before in Sicilj^ and he himfelf was elder
than Cleombrotus, the youngeft of all the Sons
o{ Anaxandrides^ and had married the Daugh-
ter of Cleofnenes, He march'd to nerjnopyle
at the head of three hundred Spartans, all
chofen by himfelf; Men of mature Years, and
Fathers of Sons. In his March he took the
Thebans with him, amounting to the Numbers
I mention'd before, and led by Leontiades the
Son of Eurymacbus. This he did induilrioufly
and with Defign, becaufe they of all the Gre-
cians were the People he mod fufpecled to fa-
vour the Medes ; by that means refolving to fee
whether they v/ould accompany him in this Ex-
pedition, or openly renounce their Alliance with
the Grecians. But the Thebans, tho' they had
no good Intentions, yet would not omit to
furnifh their Part. The Spartans fent thefe
Men with Leonidas before the reft of their
Troops, to the end that the Confederates feeing
their Diligence, might be encourag'd to take
the Field, and not think of Tiding with the
Medes, tho' thefe fhould be defeated : determi-
ning after the Carnian Feftival, which they were
then celebrating, to leave fome Forces for the
Guard of the City, and to march immediately
with their whole Strength to the Defence of
Greece, The reft of their Confederates taking
like Meafares, becaufe the new Olympiad
began at that time, and not imagining the
Difpute at Ihermopyle could fo foon be decided ;
difpatch'd fome of their Men before to the
Rendezvous, In the mean while thofe Gre-
R 3 ciana
a62 H ER 0 D 0 TU S.
cians, who were already arrived at 'Tbermopyie,
feeing the Perfian advance fo near the Pafs,
and apprehending the Event, began to think
of retiring. All the Peloponnefians, except the
Spartans, were of opinion they fhould march
away to Pelopnnefus, and defend the Ifthmus of
Corinth, BucZ^i^/^fi^J perceiving the Phocasans
and Locrians offended with the Indignity of
that Propofition, determin'd them all to itay,
and to difpatch Meflengers to the Confederates,
with Infbruftions to defire Succour, becaufc
they were not fufficient to relift the Army of
the Medes.
DURING the time of thefe Deliberations
Xerxes fent a Scout on horfeback to View their
Numbers, and to difcover how they were cm^
ploy'd. For whilft he (laid in Theffaly he was
inform'd that the Grecians had affembled a
fmail Army, in which the Lacedemonians had
the principal Authority*, and that Leonidas^ of
the Race of Hercules^ was their General. The
Scout approaching the Grecian Camp, could
not fee their whole Force, becaufe the Wall,
v/hich they had rebuilt, covered all thofe who
were upon the Guard within ; fo that he dif»
covered no more of their Men, than thofe who
were on the other fide, with their Arms lying
before the Wall. On that day the LacedemO"
nians happened to be without, as their Turn
was ; and by that means he faw fome of them
performing their Exercifes, and others putting
their Hair in order. When he had feen thefe
things with Aftoniifhment, and inform'd hi mfelf
of their Number, he retired at his Leifure; no
Man purfuing nor feeming to take any notice
of him. At his Reiurn he gave an account to
2 Xer>;es
BookVIL POLTMNIA 263
Xerxes of every thing he had difcovered : But
when the King had heard his Report, he could
not imagine that the Grecians were come thi-
ther only as Men prepared to die, and to de-
ftroy as many of their Enemies as they could ;
tho' nothing was more true. And therefore
deriding the Vanity of their Enterprize, he
fent for Bemaratus the Son of Jrifion, who was
then in the Army; and when he v/as come
into his Prefence, examined him touching each
Particular, (hewing himfelf defirous to know
what the Lacedemonians might mean by the
Meafures they had taken. *' SIR, C^'id Dema-
*' raim. You have already heard my Opinion
" concerning thefe Men, when we were about
** to invade Greece: And tho' I told you no
" more than I forefaw would come to pafs,
" you entertain'd my Difcourfe with Derifion.
*' I know the Danger of defending Truth
" againft the King : yet I defire you would
" hear me once more. Thefe Spartans are
*' advanced to this Place with a Refolution to
*' fight, and are now preparing themfslves to
" difpute our Paffage ; for their Cuftom is to
*' put their Hair in order when they are going
*' to expofe their Lives to the greateft Dangers.
" But if you conquec thefe Lacedemonians,
*' and thofe they left behind in Sparta^ be af-
*' fur'd no other Nation will dare to lift up a
" Hand againft your Power. For you are
" now to attack the mod valiant Men, and the
" beft governed State of all Gr^^^:^." Thefe things
feeming incredible to Xerxes, he ask'd him
again how fo fmall a Number could poffibly
refift his Army. " O King, replied Bemaratus,
'* deal with me as with a Lyar, if every thing
R 4 " I
264 HERODOTUS.
'' I have faid come not to pafs." Nevertliclefs
his Words made no imprelfion upon Xerxes •,
vjho being ftill in hope they would retire, un-
de t ook nothing during four Days after this
Difcourfe. But on the fifth Day, perceiving
they v/ere not yet withdrawn, and imputing
their Stay to Arrogance and Rafl:inefs ; trani^
ported with Indignation , he fent out the
Medes and the Ciffians, with Orders to take
them alive, and bring them Prifoners to him.
They attacked the Grecians furioufly, but
were repulfed with confiderable Slaughter ;
and tho' the Places of thofe that fell were in-
cefTantly fupplied by otl^ers, yet they could
not fucceed in their Attempt : the great Lofs
they fuftained, plainly demonftrating to all, no
lefs than to the King, that they were indeed
many Men, but few Soldiers. This Aclion
happen'd by day. When the Medes faw they
could maintain the Fight no longer, they re-
tir'd ; and in their room Hydarnes advanced with
that Body of Perftans who by the King were
caird immcrtah not doubting to put an end to
the Difpute. But when they came to clofe with
the Grecians they fucceeded no better than the
Medes. For they fought in a narrow Pafs, and
their pointed Arms being fhorter than thofe of
the Grecians, render'd their Numbers ufelefs.
The Lacedemonians deferve ever to be remem-
ber'd with Honour for the Adions they per-
form'd that day ; in which, among other things,
they fhew'd how much they were fuperior to
the Enemy in military Knowledge. For when-
ever they retired, they made their Retreat
in clofe order. And when they found they
v/ere purfued by the Barbarians with noife
and
Book VII. POL TMNIA 265
and fhouting, then facing about on a fudden,
they kill'd an inconceivable Number of the
Perfians, with little Lofs on their fide. So that
after the Enemy had in vain attempted to force
the Pafs, both in feparate Bodies, and all toge-
ther, they were at laft obliged to retire. The
Report is, that the King, who was Spedlator
of this Fight, rofe thrice from his Seat during
the Adlion, being under great Apprehenfions of
lofmg his Army. The next day the Barbarians,
confidering how few the Grecians were in num-
ber, and fuppoiing fo many of them to be al-
ready wounded, that they would not be able to
maintain a fecond Fight, refolved to make ano-
ther Attempt *, in which they had no better Suc-
cefs than before. For the Grecians having drawn
up their Forces in good order, and in national
Bodies, excepting only the Phocasans, who
were fent to guard the Paflage of the Mountain,
gave them fo warm a Reception, that the Per-
fians finding no Probability of fucceeding better
than they had done the preceding day, abai>-
don'd their Enterprize.
BUT whilfl: the King was doubtful what
Meafures he Ihould take in this Sate of Af-
fairs, Epialtes the Son of Eurydemus a Melian,
coming to him in expedlation of a great Re-
ward, inform'd him of the PafTage which
leads to Tbermopyle by the way of the
Mountain ; and by that means caufed the
Difperfion of thofe who were left there
for a Guard. Afterwards, fearing the In-
dignation of the Lacedemonians, he fled to
Thejfaly : And during his Flight the Af-
fembly of Amphidtyons held at Pyie profcrib'd
him, and fct a Price upon his Head. But after
2 feme
266 HERODOrUS.
fome time he was kill'd at Anticya by Athenades
a Trachinian •, who, though he kill'd him for
another reafon, which I fnall mention here-
after, was yet rewarded by the Lacedemonians.
Some indeed relate this Story in a different
manner, and pretend, that Onates the Son of
Phanagoras^ a Caryftian, and Corydalus of An-
t'lcya^ were the Men who difcovered the Paf-
fage to the King, and conduced the Perfians
by the way of the Mountain. Bat to me this
leems altogether incredible ♦, partly becaufe we
ought to believe, that when the Amphiclyons
fet a Price upon the Head of Epialtes the
Trachinian, and not upon Onates and Corydalus^
they were perfeiflly well inform'd of his Guilt.
In the fecond place, we are certain Epialtes ran
away on this Occafion. And laflly, Onates
not being a Melian, could not well be acquaint-
ed with this way, unlcfs he had been much
converfknt in that Country. From all which
Iconclude, that Epialtes was thejEnemy's, Guide
and guilty of betraying the PafTage to the
Perfians.
XERXES having heard with Satisfadion what
Epialtes took upon him to perform, fhew'd him-
felf extremely pleas'd, and order'd Hydarnes to
march av/ay immediately with the Forces he
commanded. In the Evening Hydarnes began
to advance towards the way, by which former-
ly the Inhabitants of Melis^ who were the firft
Difcoverers, conduced the ThefTalians againft
the Phoc^ans ; when, having built a Wall to de-
fend the other Pafs , they thought themfelves
fecure from any fuch Attempt. This PafTage is
not at all fortified, becaufe not ufeful to the
Melians ; and beginning at the River Afopus
(which
Book VII. POLTMNIA. 267
(which palTes thro' an Aperture of the Moun-
tain Anopisa) goes under the fame Name with
the Mountain ; and extending along the back
of the Hills, leads down to Jlpeni^ a Locrian
City near the Frontier of Melis^ by the Stone
of Melampygus, and the Seats of the Cercopians :
where the Way is more narrow than in any
other part. In this Pafiage, thus fituate, the
Perfians march'd all night, after they had
pafs'd the River A/opus, having the Moun-
tains of Oeta on their Right, and thofe of
'Trachis on their Left-hand ; and at Day- break
arrived at the Top of the Hills: where, as I
have already faid, a thoufand Phocseans were
potted, as well to fecure their own Country, as
to prevent an Irruption on that fide. For the
lower Pafs was guarded by thofe I mentioned
before: And the Phocsans had voluntarily
undertaken to Leonidds to defend that of the
Mountain. The Perfians were not difcover'd
by the Phocscans till they had reach'd the top
of the Hills, having been all that time conceal'd
by the great number of Oaks which grew in
the way. But then, the noife of the Leaves
they trod upon, gave notice of their Approach ;
the rather, becaufe the Air was perfedlly
ferene and quiet. Upon this Alarm the Pho-
caeans ran to their Arms, and had no fooner
put themfelves in order, than the Barbarians
appear'd ; but were not a little furpriz'd to find
fuchaBody of Men, in a place where they ex-
pelled not to meet with any Refiftance. Hydar-
nes fearing the Phocaeans might be Lacedemo-
nians, demanded of EpialteSy of what Nation the
Enemy was ; and being inform'd who they were,
he drew up the Perfians in order of Battel. The
Phocasaus
268 HERODOTUS.
Phocseans findi'ng themfelves galTd by the
great numbers of Darts, which the Perfians
threw incefTantly among them, retir'd with
Precipitation to the highefl part of the Moun-
tain; and being perfuaded that this Enter-
prize was form'd againft them, prepar'd to die
gallantly. But Epialtes and H^darnes^ with
the Perfians, neglecting to follow the Pho-
cseans, as a thing of little Importance, march'd
down from the Mountain with all pofTible
expedition. The Augur Megiftias having in-
fpedled the Sacrifices, was the firft who ac-
quainted the Grecians at 'Thermop^le^ that
they were all threatened with Death. After
which, certain Deferters arriving in the night,
gave notice, that the Perfians were paffing over
the Mountain : And at day-break the ordinary
Guard came running from the Hills with the
fame Advice. Upon this the Grecians calTd a
Council of War, and divided in their Opinions.
For fome would not hear of abandoning their
Station, and others were of a contrary Sentiment,
In this confufion they feparated, and one part of
their Forces return'd home, whilft the reft with
Leonidas prepar'd themfelves to receive the Ene-
my. Some fay, t\\2it Leonidas^ out of an earneft
defireto preferve their Lives, difmifs'd all thofe
who march'd away ; but that he and the Spar-
tans with him, thought themfelves obliged in
honour to maintain the Poft they came to de-
fend. For my own part, I incline to think,
that Leonidas obferving his Allies averfe and un-
willing to run the fame hazard with him, gave
them leave to retire ; and that he himfelf re-
folv'd to ftay, in order to preferve his own Re-
putation, to leave a glorious Name behind him,
and
Book VII. POL TMNIA. 269
and to fecure the Felicity of Sparta, For the
Spartans having already confulted the Pythian
touching the Event of this War, had received
for Anfwer, That Sparta Hiould be deftroyed
by the Barbarians, or their King fhould lofe his
Life. The Oracle was delivered in the follow-
ing Hexameters:
The Spartan Plains /hall feel the Perfian Rage^
J heir City under Servitude Jh all groan \
JJnle'iS a King^ horn of Herculean Race^
Oppref^d in War^ Jhall die to fave the rejl.
My Opinion therefore is, that Leonidas refolv-
ing thefe things in his mind, and being defi-
rous that the Spartans alone fhould have the
Glory of this Adion, fent away the Confede-
rates •, and nor, that thofe who marched away,
feparated themfelves from the reft in an inde-
cent manner, on account of their mutual Ani-
mofities. The Condud: of Leonidas himfelf is
no fmall Argument to confirm what I fay: For
fince, among others, he would have difmifs'd
Megifttas the Acarnian, who was reported to be
defcended from Melampus^ and had predidled
the Event of jthis Enterprize by infpedling the
Sacrifices, nothing is more manifefl than thac
he gave him leave to depart, left he fhould pe-
rifh with the Spartans ; tho' Megiftias would
not make ufe of that PermifTion, but contented
himfelf to fend home his only Son, who had
attended him on this occafion. So that in
truth the Allies, that went away, retired by
the Perfuafion of Leonidas : Only the Thef-
pians and the Thebans, remain'd with the La-
cedemonians j the Thebans indeed unwilling-
^70 HERODOTUS.
ly, and againft their Inclination, detained as
Hoftages by Leonidas ; but the Thefpians vo-
luntarily, and with their Leader Demophilus^ the
Son of Diadrofneus, conftantly refufing to aban*
don Leonidas and his Spartans, died with them
in the Field.
XE R XES, after he had pour*d out a Liba-
tion at the time of the Rifing of the Sun, and
ftaid till the hour Men ufually meet in the pub-
lick Places, began to move on with his Army,
as Epialtes had advis'd ; becaufe the Defcent of
the Mountain is much ihorter and more free
from Windings than the Afcent. Upon their
Approach, Leonidas^ with the Grecians, leaving
the V/all guarded, advanced to the broadeft
part of the Pafifage, in far greater Expedatioa
of Death than at any time before. They
fought the preceding Days in the narroweft
way of the Pafij but now engaging in the
"wideft, great numbers of the Barbarians fell :
for their Officers (landing behind the Divifions
they commanded, forced them to advance with
Blows and Menaces *, fo that n'iany falling into
the Sea were drowned, and many more were
trampled under foot, without any regard had
to thofe that perifhed. The Grecians, on
their part, knowing they could not avoid Death
upon the Arrival of thofe who were coming
by the way of the Mountain, pufh'd on de-
fperately, and exerted their utmoR Efforts a-
gainft the Barbarians. And becaufe moft of
their Javelins were already broken, they drew
their Swords, and made a great Slaughter a-
mong the Perfians. In this A(S}:ion fell Leonidas,
after he had done all that a brave Man could
do J and with him other eminent Spartans, whofe
Names
Book VII. POLTMNIA, 271
Names I have heard repeated with Honour, as
well as the reft of the three hundred. The
Lofs of the Perfians was great, and many il-
Juftrious Men were killed on their fide. A-
mong thefe Ahrocomes and H'jperanthes^ Sons of
Darius^ by Phrataguna^ the Daughter of his
Brother Atarnes^ who was Son to Hyftafpes^ and
Grand Ton to Arfames. When At arms married
his Daughter to Darius, he gave him all his
PofTeiTions, becaufe he had no other Offspring.
Thefe two Brothers of Xerxes were killed
fighting for the Body of Leonidas, which the
Lacedemonians and Perfians obftinately dif-
puted, till at laft the Grecians refcued it by
their Valour, and four times repuls'd the Ene-
my. This was the State of things, when the
Army with Epialies arriv'd ; of which the Gre-
cians were no fooner inform'd, than Vidory
fhifted to the other fide: For returning into
the narrow way, and pafling within the Wall,
they all drew together, except the Thebans, and
pofted themfelves in clofe Order on a rifmg
Ground, where a Lion of Storfe is now feen,
ereded for a Monument to Leonidas, In this
place they defended themfelves, with the Swords
they had left, againft the Barbarians, whopour'd
in from every part with a horrible Noife j
feme beating down the Wall, and entering by
the Breaches, whilft Multitudes of others came
in, and furrounded them on all fides. The ge-
neral Opinion is, that tho* the Lacedemonians
and Thefpians fhew'd fuch invincible Courage,
yet Dieneces the Spartan diftinguifh'd himfelf
beyond all others : And when a Trachinian
told him, before the Fight began, that the Mul-
titude of the Barbarians was fo great, that they
would
J
V-,
272 HERODOTUS.
would let fly i"uch a number of Arrows at once^
as fhould hide the Light of the Sun *, he was
fo far from being aftonifh'd, that, in Contempt
of their Numbers, he faid, The News was
good ; and that if the Sun was intercepted by
the Medes, they fliould then fight in the Shade*
This, and other memorable Sayings, are attri-
buted to Dieneces the Lacedemonian. After him
thofewho fignalizedthemfelves mod among the
Lacedemonians, were two Brothers, Alpheus
and Mar on y Sons of Oriftphantus ; and of the
Thefpians, Dith'^ramhus^ the Son ofHarmalideus,
They were all buried in the Place where they
fought, as well thofe who fell in this Adlion,
as thofe who were killed before Leonidas dif-
mifled the Confederates ; and a Monument was
crefted to their Memory, with thislnfcription :
Four thoufand Men^ from anttent Pelops nan^d^
Upon this Ground againft three Millions fought.
This Epitaph was made for all ; that which fol-
lows only for the Lacedemonians :
Go^ Friend, acquaint the Spartans how we fell
With Glory, and their juji Commands obey'd.
Befides thefe, there was another Infcription for
the Prophet Megifiias, conceiv'd in thefe words :
Slain by the Medes, divine Megiftias lies
\ Under this Stone ; hefaw approaching Fate
\ With Heart undaunted, and refused to live '^
When the brave Spartans had refolv'd to die*
The
p
BookVIL POLTMNIA. 273
The two former Infcriptions were order'd by
the Amphi6lyons ; but this of Megiflias was
ere6led by Simonides, the Son of Leoprepes^ in
Teftimony of their mutual Friendfhip. Some
fay, that Eurpus and AriftodemuSy two of the
three hundred Lacedemonians, being defpe-
rarely afflicted with a Difeafe of the Eyes, re-
tir'd to Alpheni by the PermifTion of Leonidas ;
and though they might have preferved their
Lives by returning to Sparta^ or, refufing to
return, might have died with the reft, they
could not agree in either ; but continued to dif-
fer in their Opinions, till at laft Eurytus hear-
ing the Perfians were arrived by the way of the
Mountain, call'd for his ArmiS ; and when he
had them on, order'd his Servant to lead him
into the Field of Battle j where falling in a-
mong the thickeft of the Enem.y, he loft his
Life : whilft Ariftodemus^ wanting Courage, ftaid
behind atAlpbem. As for ilit Servant of Eurytus
he had no fooner condu6led his Mafter to the
Place where the Fight was, than he left him,
and ran away. Now if Ariftodemus alone had
been difabled by his Diftemper, and in that
Condition had return'd to Sparta ; or if both
had gone home together, I cannot think the La-
cedemonians would have been difpleafed. But
one of thefe dying in the Field, put them under
a Neceftity of fhewing their Refentment againft
the Survivor ; who refus'd to die, albeit he
was in the fame Circumftance with the other.
Thus, fome Men fay, Ariftodemus return'd fafe
to Sparta^ under colour of his Difeafe; but o-
thers pretend, that being fent with Orders from
the Army, he might have been prefent at the
Fight, and would nor, tho' his Companion ar-
VoL. IL S riv'd
I
274 HERODOTUS.
riv'd in due time, and died in the Field. How-
ever, at his Return, he was punifh'd with Ig-
nominy and Contempt: with Contempt, in
that no Lacedemonian would converfe with
him, or fuffer him to make ufe of his Fire -,
with Ignominy, in that they gave him the name
of Jriftodemus the Fugitive. But he afterwards
wiped off all the Guilt of this Adlion, by his
Behaviour at the Battel of Plataa. They fay
alfo, that another of the three hundred, whofe
Name was Panites^ having been fent on a Mef-
fage to Ihejfah^ furviv'd thisAdion, and re-
turn'd to Sparta ; but being unable to bear the
Reproaches of the Spartans, he ftrangled him-
felf. As for the Thebans, and their General
Leontiades^ they were neceflitated for fome
time to fight againft the King's Army, in con-
jun^Elion with the Grecians : but they no foo-
ner faw the Perfians vidtorious, than they aban-
don'd the reft of their Allies, as they were
haftening to the Hill ; and with extended
Hands approaching the Barbarians, moft truly
faid. That they had always been Partizansof
the Medes *, that they were among the firft
who prefented the King with Earth and Wa*
ter *, that they came to Thennopyle by force, and
were no way guilty of the Lofs he had fuftain'd.
By thefe words, which the Theflalians con-
firm'd with their Teftimony, the Thebans
faved their Lives, but had no great reafon to
boaft: For the Barbarians kill'd many of their
Men, as they advanc'd to furrender themfelves ;
and, by the Command of Xerxes^ branded a
much greater number with the Royal Mark,
beginning at their General Leontiades ; whofe
Son Eurymachus having afterwards furpriz'd the
City
Book VII. POL TMNIA, 275
City of Flatcsa^ at the head of four hundred
Thebans, was killed by the Platasans. Thus
the Grecians fought at Thermopile.
UPON this Event, Xerxes having fent for
Bemaratus^ began his Difcourfe^ in this manner;
*' Demaratus^ /aid he, I find by the certain
" Evidence of Truth, that you are a Man of
" Probity \ for all things have happen'd as you
" foretold. Tell me now how many the reft
" of the Lacedemonians may be? What Num-
<« ber of fuch Men as thefe they can bring in-
«' to the Field? And whether they have all the
<' fame Courage?" '«• SIR, faid., Demaratus,
" the Lacedemonians are numerous, and have
*' many Cities ; but I fhall inform you of that
<* which you defire to know. The City of
" Sparta has about eight thoufand Men, all
<' equal in Valour to thofe who have fought on
'' this Occafion ; and the reft of the Lacede-
«' monians are valiant, tho' not altogether like
'« thefe." " Let me know then, /aid Xerxes,
'' the readieft way to conquer thefe Men, for
*' you have been their King, and confequently
*' are well acquainted with the Tendency of
" their Counfels." '' SIR, r^/?/)i',i Demaratus,
" fince you condefcend to ask my Advice, I
*' am bound to give you the beft I can : The
*« moft probable way to effe(51:y our Defign, is
" to fend a Fleet of three hundred Ships to
*' the Lacedemonian Coaft. For there is an
*' IHand, c2L]Vd Cythera, lying off that Shore;
*« which Chilon^ one of the wifeft Men of our
" Nation, faid would be more advantageaus to
« the Spartans, if drown'd in the bottom of
*« the Sea, than in the prefent Situation: al-
** ways apprehending fuch an Enterprize as I
S 2 " am
276 HERODOTUS.
" am about to propofe : Not that he forefaw
*' the Arrival of your Fleet, but fearing fuch
'' an Attempt might be made at one time or
«' other. From this IQand you may continual-
" ly alarm the Lacedemonians; who finding
" themfelves involved in a defen five War at
«' home, will be no longer formidable to you,
«' nor in a condition to fuccour the reft of the
*' Grecians, when they fhall be attack'd by
«' your Land-Forces." In a word, when by
" this means you have fubdued the other Parts
«' of Greece^ the Lacedemonians alone will not
*' be able to refift. But if you ad otherwife,
'' expedl another kind of Event: For the Pe.
" loponnefians have in their Country a narrow
" Ifthmus, to which they will not fail to draw
*' all their Forces, and conftrain you to engage
<« in Adions m^ore bloody than you have yet
" feen ; whereas if you put my Advice in exe-
" cution, not only the Ifthmus, but their Ci-
" ties alfo will be yours without hazard."
When he had finifh'd thefe words, Achafnene^y
Brother to Xer^es^ and Comm.ander in chief at
Sea, being prefent at this Difcourfe, and fear-
ing the King might be induc'd to follow the
Counfel of Bemaratus ; *' SIR, faid he, I per-
" ceive you hearken to the Suggeftions ofa
*' Man, who either envies your Profperity, or
" perhaps would betray your Affairs. For the
" conftant manner of the Grecians is to envy
" the Fortunate, and to hate the Powerful :
*« If therefore, after you have Joft four hun-
. ^-
miftocles^ the Athenian General, and by a Pre-
fent of thirty Talents prevail'd v/ith him to
promife, that they would flay and fight the Ene-
my on that Coaft ; which he efteded in this
manner : He gave five Talents of this Money to
Eur'^biades^ as from himfelf j and having gain'd
his Confent by that means, he went to the Co-
rinthian Commander, Adimantus^ the Son of O-
cpus ; becaufe he was now the only Perfon, who
refufiflg to flay, had peremptorily declared he
would leave Artemijium^ and with an Oath faid
to him, " Adimojitus^ you fhall not abandon
'' us ; for I will make you a greater Prefenc
*' than the King of the Medes would fend you
^' for deferting the Allies." When he had fpo-
ken thefc Words, he prefently fent him three
Talents of Silver on board his Ship •, and by
this Bribery, having prevail'd with the Com-
manders to ftay, he at oncegratify'd theEubce-
ans, and fecur'd all the refl: to himfelf ; whilit
thofe who took part of the Money, knew no-
thing of the Remainder, but thought the Athe-
nians had entrufled him with that Sum, to be
employed in fuch an Occafion. Thus the Gre-
cians continued on theCoafl of Eubcea, till they
came to an Engagement ; which happen'd in this
manner : The Barbarians arriving in the Road
of Aphete about Day-break, and obferving that
the Grecians were at Artemifium with a fmali
number of Ships, as they had been already in-
form'd, fhew'd a general Difpofition to try if
they
284 HERODOTUS.
they could furprize them in that Station ; but
they were not ofopinion to attack them in Front,
left the Grecians, feeing them approaching,
ihould betake themfelves to flight •, and favour'd
by the enfuing Night, fhould make their ef-
cape: Whereas, in their account, every Ship
was already condemn'd to fall into their hands,
without excepting even that which carried the
Light. In this Defign they detach'd two hun-
dred Ships, chofen out of all their Fleet, with
Orders to fail behind Sciathus^ and ihape their
Courfe to the Etiripus, by Capbareus and Gerejlus^
that the Enemy might thus be circumvented, and
not difcover them paffing along the Goafl of
Euhcea : Not doubting, by this Force, to prevent
their Efcape on that fide, whilft all the rell of
the Fleet fliould attack them in Front. When
they had taken this Refolution, they fent away
the two hundred Ships ; and determining to at-
tempt nothing againft the Grecians that Day, nor
before they Ihould fee the Signal agreed upon,
to notify the Arrival of their Detachment, they
applied themfelves to take a view of their Num-
bers remaining at Aphete. In this Fleet was
Scyllias^ a Native of Scyone^ who being the befh
Diver of his time, had fav'd for the Ufe of the
Perfians a great part of the Treafure funk in
the Shiowreck at Pelion, and diverted a confide-
rable Sum to his own Profit. He had been long
defirous to go over to the Grecians, but not
finding a proper Opportunity, had deferred his
Djfign to the time of this Review. By what
means he made his efcape to the Grecians,
I cannot certainly affirm, and am aftoniOied at
the account <>iven ot him: For the Report is,
that he plung'd under water at Jphek:> and role
no
Book VIII. URANIA. 285
no more till he arriv'd at Artemifium ; which
Places are about fourfcore Scades diftant from
each other. Many other things are related of
this Man, that have the Air of Falfhood ; and
fome that are true. Yet after all, my Opinion
is, that he made his PafTage to Artemifium in a
Boat. At his Arrival he inform'd the Comman-
ders of the Particulars of the Shipwreck, and of
the Ships that were ordered to fail round Euh^a :
Which when the Grecians heard, they call'd
a Council of War, and after divers Opinions
had been propos'd, camiC to aRefolution, That
they would continue in their Station all that
day, and at midnight v/eigh anchor to advance
to meet the Fleet, which was fent out to pre-
vent their Efcape : But not difcovering any Ships
making towards them, they lay by tillSun-fet ;
and then advancing againft the Barbarians, re-
fol v'd to m.ake a tryal of their Courage in Fight,
and of their Skill in maritime Affairs. When
the Enemy, both Officers and Soldiers, favv
them approaching with fo few Ships, they attri-
buted their Enterprize to extreme Folly ; and
advancing likewife on their part, Coubted not
of an eafy Vidlory : The truth is, they had
great reafon to expe6t Succefs. And therefore,
feeing the Grecian Ships v/ere few, and their
own not only far more in number, but much
better Sailors, they with Scorn encompaffed
them on all fides. Some of the lonians retain-
ing an Affedion for the Grecians, were with
regret among the Enemies Forces, and extreme-
ly concerned to fee them furrounded in fuch a
manner ; thinking their Condition fo defperate,
that not a Man could poflibly efcape. But others,
pleas'd with their Diltrefs, labour'd with all
their
286 HERODOTUS.
their might, who fhould take the firft Athenian
Ship, and merit a Recompence from the King :
For the Athenians were in greater efteem among
the Enemy than any of the other Confederates.
At the firft Signal the Grecians drew into a
Circle, and turn'd the Heads of all their Ships
againft the Barbarians. At the fecond Signal
they began the Fight, crouded into a narrow
Compafs, and having the Enemy in front on e-
very part: yet in a fiiort time they took thirty
Ships from the Barbarians, with Pbiiaofi, the Son
ofCberfis, Brother to Gor^ After the Grecians had thus dif-
pos'd of the Booty, they fet fail for the Ifthmus,
with a Refolution to confer the accuftom.ed
Honours upon the Perfon, who ihould be found
to have behaved himfelf beft in this War •, and
accordingly, at their Arrival, the Captains
brought in, and laid upon the Altar of 'Neptune^
the Names of thofe they judg'd to deferve the
firft and fecond Place. Bat every one thinking
he had perform'd his part beft, every one wrote
down his own Name firft ; and for the moft
part gave his fecond Vote for nefniftodes : So
that each General adjudging the firft Place to
himfelf, in which they were fmgle, left the fe-
cond to nemiflocles uncontefted. And tho' the
Grecians, out of mutual Jealoufy, would not
determine this Difpute, but return'd to their
feveral Countries, without coming to a Deci-
fion, yet l^hemijtocles was univerfally applauded
&nd obtain'd the Reputation of the moft pru-
Y 4 dent
344 HERODOTUS.
dent Man in Greece. Neverthelefs, becaufe thofe
who fought the Battle at Salamis, had not ho-
nour'd him as he expedled, he went prefently
away to Lacedemon^ that he might there receive
the Honours he defir'd. The Lacedemonians
receiv'd him fplendidly, and paid him the great-
eft Refpedls. They decreed the Prize of Va-
lour to Euryhiades •, of Dexterity and Prudence
to Tbejniflocles •, and therefore prefented each
with a Crown of Olive. They alfo gave Themi"
Jlocles the moft magnificent Chariot in Sparta ;
and after they had faid much in his praife, three
hundred eminent Spartans of the Equeftrian Or-
der, attended him in his Return, to the Borders
of Tegea -, which is the fingle Example we know
of a Man accompanied by the Lacedemonians
at his Departure. But upon his Return to A-
thenst from Sparta^ Timodemus, of Aphidna^ one
of his Enemies, tho' otherwife of no great figure,
jnvidioufly fnatching the Occafion, reproached
I'hemijlocles with his Journey to hacedemon^ and
objeded, that the Honours he receiv'd from the
Spartans, were not conferred on him for his
own Merit, but on account of the Athenians,
And becaufe he continued to repeat the fame
things with importunity, Thetniftocles at laft an-
fwered him -, '• The truth is, faid he^ were I
** of Belbina^ I fhould not have receiv'd fo much
*' Honour in Sparta^ nor you, tho' you are an
«' Athenian."
ARTABAZUS^ the Son of Pharmces, a Man
of great Reputation among the Perfians before,
and of much greater after the Battel of Flalaa,
having with him fixty thoufand Men, drawn
out of that Army which Mardonius had chofen,
conduced Xerxes to the Paflage ; and after the
2 King's
Book VIII. URANIA. 345
King's Arrival in Jfia^ return'd back, and en-
camp'd about Pallene, But becaufe Mardonius^
wintering in Theffaly and in Macedonia^ was noc
willing to augment his Camp with thcfe Men,
Jrtahazus thought to take that opportunity, to
punifh the Defedtion of the Potidaeans with the
utmoft Rigour. For as foon as the King had
pafled by, and the Perfian Fleet, flying from
Salamis^ was out of fight, they openly '•evoked
from the Barbarians, and the Inhabitants o^ Pal-
lene did the fame : For that caufe Artahazus laid
fiege to Potidcea -, and fufpeding the Olynthi-
ans would follow their Example, befieg'd Ol^n^
thus alfo, which was then in the poflfeflion of
thofe Botti^ans, who had been driven out of
the Bay o^Therma by the Macedonians. Thefe,
when he had taken the City, he brought down
into a Morafs, and put them all to death ; after
which he gave the Government to Critohidus of
Torone^ by Defcent a Chalcidian, and by that
means the Chalcidians became Mailers of Olyn-
thus. After the Redudlion of this Place, yfr/^-
^^z^j apply 'd himfelf with more attention to
the Siege of Potidcea \ and as he was earneftly
defirous to fucceed in his Attempt, '^imoxenus^
Captain of the Scionasans, agreed to betray the
City to him. Touching the beginning of their
Correfpondence I can fay nothing, becaufe no-
thing is reported ; but the Event was thus :
When Timoxenus had any thing to impart to Ar-
tahazus^ or Artahazus to Timoxenusy they puca
Letter into the Head of an Arrow ; and after-
wards affixing the Feathers, fhot the Arrow
into the Place they had agreed upon. But the
Traytor Timoxenus was at laft detedled : For an
Arrow of Artahazus happening to fall in a
wrong
346 HERODOTUS.
wrong Place, wounded one of the Potidxans in
the Shoulder ; upon which the Multitude run-
ning together about the wounded Man, as is
ufual in time of War, drew out the Arrow,
and having found the Letter, carried it to the
principal Officers of the Pocid^ans, and of the
other Pallenians their Confederates, who were
then in the City. When they had read the Let-
ter, and difcover'd the Author of the Treache-
ry, they determin'd, in favour of 6"^/^;?^, not to
punifh 'Timoxems with death, left the Scionseans
fhould ever after be accounted Traitors. Thus
the Treafon of Tmoxenus was detected : And as
for Artabazus, after he had continu'd the Siege
during three Months, the Tides rofe fo high,
and lafted fo long, that the Barbarians feeing
all the Shore full of Water and Mire, retired
towards Pallene ; and when they had pafled
two parts in five, of the March they had to
make through that way, before they could ar-
rive there, lb great an Inundation came pouring
in from the Sea, that the Inhabitants fay the
like never happen'd before, though more mode-
rate Floods are frequent on that Coaft. Thofe
that could not fwim, perifh'd by the Waters ;
and thofe that could, were killed by the Poti-
d?Eans, who purfued them in Boats. The Caufe
of this Inundation and Difafter of the Perfians,
is, by the Potidsans, attributed to the Indigni-
ties done by thofe who were drown'd, to the
Image and Temple of Neptune^ which ftands
in the Suburbs ; and to me they feem to have
made a right Judgment. The reft return'd with
jirtahazus to the Camp of Mardonm in Thejfaly ;
and fuch was the Fortune of thofe Troops that
were fent to condud the Kins.
3 THE
Book VIII. URANIA. 347
THE Remains of the Fleet of -Y^rA-^j, which
fled from SalamiSy arriving on the Coaft of j^Jia^
landed the King with his Army at Abydus^
pafied the Winter 2LtCyme^ and in the Beginning
of the next enfuing Spring aflembled at Samos^
where fome of their Ships had been laid up.
The fighting Men they had on board, being
for the moft part Perfians and Medes, were
under the Condudt of Mardontes^ the Son of
BcigcBUS, and Artayntes^ the Son of Artachceus^
in conjundion with Amitres, Uncle to the lat-
ter. And as they were extremely difpirited,
and not compelled by necefTity, they would
not adventure to the Weftward, but conti-
nu'd at Samos with three hundred Ships, in-
cluding thofe of lonia^ to prevent the lonians
from revolting: not imagining that the Gre-
cians would come thither, but be well con-
tented to prefcrve their own Country; becaule
they had fo readily retir'd, without purfuing
the Perfians, when they fled from Salamis,
Thus defpairing of Vidory by Sea, and yec
believing Mardonius, with his Land- Forces,
would be more fuccefsful, they confulted to-
gether at Samos what damage they might be
able to do the Enemy, and at the fame time
were attentive to the Event of his Enter-
prize : But the Spring coming on, and Mar-
donius in Thejfaly^ awaken'd the Grecians ; and
though their Land-Army was not yen aflem-
bled, they arrived at Mgina with one hundred
and ten Ships, putting themfelves under the
Condudl of Leutychides^ defcended from Mena-
res^Agefelaus^HippocratidesJ.eutychides^AnaxilauSy
Arcbidams, Anaxandrides^ Theopcmpus , Nicander,
Charilus, Eunomus^ Polyds5JeSiPrytams^Eurypho'n^
ProcleSf
348 HERODOTUS.
Frocks^ Ariftodemus, Ariftomachus^ Cleodcaus^ Hjl-
ius, and Hercules. He was of the other Branch
of the Royal Family, and his Progenitors were
all Kings of Sparta^ except the four lad, and
the feven I mentioned immediately after Leuty-
chides. Xanthippus, the Son of Aripbron^ -was
General of the Athenians •, and when all thefe
Ships were aflembled at Mgina^ certain lonians
arrived in the Grecian Fleet, being the fame
Perfons who a little before had been at Sparta^
to define the Lacedemonians to deliver Ionia
from Servitude ; and of thefe Herodotus^ the
Son of Bafilides^ was one. They had been at
the beginning feven, and having determin'd to
kill Strattes-i Tyrant of the Chians, were dif-
cover'd by one of their Accomplices -, fo that
the other fix withdrawing privately from Chio^
went firft to Sparta^ and then to jEgina^ be-
feeching the Grecians to fail to lonia^ but could
hardly prevail with them to advance to Delos:
for all beyond that Place feem'd terrible to the
Grecians ; who being ignorant of the Coun-
tries, thought every part to be full of Enemies,
and that Samos was as far diftant from them, as
the Columns of Hercules. Thus becaufe the
Barbarians durll not venture to fail beyond 6"^-
mos Weftward, nor the Grecians Eaftward be-
yond Delos^ though earned ly prefled by the
Chians, their mutual Fears preferved the Na-
tions that lay between both.
DURING the time of this Voyage to
Delos^ Mardonius having palled the Winter in
nejfaly^ and being ready to march out of that
Country, fent away a certain Perfon of Euro-
psean Extradlion, named Mus^ with order to
contrive fome means to get accefs to the Ora-
clesj
Book. VIII. -URANIA. 349
cles, and to confult for him. What Queftions
he commanded him to propofe to the Oracles,
I cannot determine, becaufe Fame is filent in
that particular ; but I am of opinion, that he
fent to enquire about the Affairs then depend-
ing, and not of other things. However, we are
certain that this Mus arriv'd in Lehadia^ and
having corrupted a Native of the Place, de-
fcended into the Cave of Tropbonius ; that he
procured Accefs to the Oracle of Me in PhociSy
and that he had been before at Thebes^ where
he confulted the Ifmenian Apollo^ offering fuch
Sacrifices as are ufed in Olympia, and bribed a
Stranger, not a Theban, to fleep in the Tem-
ple oi\Amphiaraus : For none of the Thebans
are permitted to confult there, becaufe when
Amphiaraus left to their choice, whether they
would have him for their Prophet, or their Al-
ly, the Thebans rather chofe to take him for
their Ally *, and for this caufe no Theban may
fleep in his Temple. In that time a furprizing
thing happened, as I was informed by the The-
bans -, they told me, that this Mus of Europus^
as he went round to all the Oracles, arrived ac
the Temple of the Ptoan Apollo ; which, tho*
called by that Name, belongs to the Thebans,
and ftands beyond the Lake CopaiSy at the foot
of the Mountain, near the City of Acraphia :
That he had no fooner entered the Temple, ac-
companied by three Citizens, chofen by the
Publick to write down the words of the Ora-
cle, than the Archprieltefs immediately fpoke
in a barbarous Tongue : That when thofe The-
bans, who followed him, flood amazed to hear
a Barbarian Language inflead of Greek, and
knew not v^hat to do on that occafion, Mu3
fuddenly
350 HER0D07US.
fuddenly fnatching the Table book they brought
with them, wrote down the words of the
Prieftefs, which, they fay, were in a Carian
Tongue ; and after he had done^ departed for
Tbeffaly,
WHEN Mardonius had read the Anfwers
of the Oracles, he fen t Alexander, the Son of
Amjnias, a Macedonian, to Athens ^ as well on
account of his Relation to the Perfians, by the
Marriage of his Sifter Gygea to Buhares a Per-
fjan, who had by her a Son named after his
Grandfather Ammtasy to whom the King of
Pbrygia had given the Revenues of Alahanda 5
as becaufe he was informed of the mutual
Friendftiip and Hofpitality that pafTed be-
tween him and the Athenians. This way he
thought moft effedual to gain the Athenians ;
and having not only heard that they were a
numerous and valiant People, but believino-
they had been the principal Caufe of the late
Difafter of the Perfians in the Sea-fight, he
hoped, with reafon, that if he could bring
them over, he fhould eafily become Mafter at
Sea j and being perfuaded of the Superiority
of his Land'Forces, concluded, that he fhould
be able to conquer Greece, Perhaps alfo the
Oracles counfelled him to procure the Alli-
ance of the Athenians. However, for the Rea-
fons above-mentioned, he fenc away Alexander,
SuccefTor, in the feventh Generation, of that
Perdiccas, who obtained the Monarchy of Ma-
cedonia^ in the following manner : Gauanes^ M-
ropus^ and Perdiccas, three Brothers, Dcfcen-
dants of Temenus^ fled from Argos to Illyria, and
from thence pafling into the Upper Macedonia,
arrived in the City of Lehcsa^ where they en-
tered
Book. VIII. URANIA. 351
tered into the King's Service for Wages. One
of them had the care of his Horfes, another of
his Oxen, and Perdiccas^ who was the youn-
geft, kept the JefTer Cattle -, for in antienc
time, not only the People, but Monarchs too,
had little Wealth. And as the Wife of this
King made their Bread, fhe conflantly perceived
that of Perdiccas increafed to double the Quan-
tity of the reft \ which when fhe had long ob-
ferved, (he acquainted her Husband with what
fhe had feen. The King having heard her,
and taking the thing for a Prodigy portending
fome confiderable Event, fent for the Brothers,
and commanded them to depart out of his Ter-
ritories. They anfwered. That in juftice they
ought to receive their Salaries, and then they
would readily go. But the King hearing them
mention their Salary, and at the fame time
feeing the Sun fhining through the Chimney
into the Houfe, blafphemoufiy faid, " This I
*' give you as a fufficient Reward of your Ser-
" vice :" pointing to the Sun, as he pro-
nounced thofe words. Gauanss and Mropis,,
the elder Brothers, flood amazed at his DiT-
courfe i but the youngeft anfwering, " We
*' accept thy Offer, O King," took out a
Sword, which he happened to have about him ;
and having drawn a Circle upon the Floor
round the Brightnefs, made three feveral Mo-
tions to put up the Light of the Sun into his
Bofom, and then departed with his Brothers.
After their Departure, one of thofe who were
prefent, told the King what the Youth had
done, and that being the youngeft, he muft
have had fome Defign in accepting his Offer :
Which when the King heard, he h\\ \mo a
352 HERODOTUS.
great Rage, and fent away Men on horfeback,
with Orders to purfue and kill the Brothers.
In this Country is a River, to which the De-
fcendants of thefe Argians facrifice in comme-
moration of their Deliverance j becaufe they
had no fooner paflfed, than the Streams ran fo
high, and with fuch Violence, that the Horfe-
men could not pofTibly get over. The Teme-
nides thus efcaping, went to inhabit in another
Country of Macedonia^ near the Gardens that
are faid to have belonged to Midas^ the Son of
Gordias •, where Rofes of fixty Leaves each, and
of a more fragrant Scent than any other, grow
naturally without Cultivation. If we may be-
lieve the Macedonians, Silenus was taken in thefe
Gardens ; which are fhelter'd by a Mountain
called Bermion^ inacceflible in Winter. Here
they began their firfl; Encerprizes •, and after they
had reduced thefe Parts, they fubdued the reft
of Macedonia. From this Perdiccas, Alexander
derived his Blood, in the following manner :
Alexander was the Son of Amynias^ Amjntas of
AUoles^ Aleves of Mropus^ Mropus of Philip,
Philip o^^Armis^ and Arceus of Perdiccas, who
acquired the Kingdom.
ALEXANDER, the Son of Amyntasy arriv-
ing at Athens on the part of Mardonius, fpoke thus
to the Athenians : " Men of Athens, Mardonius
has fent me to tell you, that he has re-
ceived a MefTage from the King, containing
" thefe words : I forgive the Athenians all the
*' Injuries they have done me ; and therefore,
" Mardonius, obferve the following Orders : Re-
'' inftate them in the PofTefTion of their own
" Territories s give them moreover whatever
" other
4C
BookVIir. URANIA. 353
'« other Country they fhall chufe y let them
" govern by their own Laws, and rebuild all
<« their Temples which I have burnt, if they
" will come to an Agreement with me. Hav-
" ing received thefe Orders, I am obliged to
" put them in execution, unlefs you prevent
" me: Andnowlmyfflf v/ould ask you, what
*' Madn'^^s pufhes ycu on co make war againft
*' a King you will never conquer, nor always
*' be able to refill? You are not ignorant of the
'' numerous Forces and great A6lions oi Xerxes ;
" you have heard of the Army I have, and if
«^ you fhould happen to be vidorious, and to
" defeat us, which you can never hope fo long
" as you have the ufr of Rerifon, another much
*' more powerful will come againft you. Suf-
" fer not yourfelves then to be difpofTcfTed of
'' your Country, and continually alarmed for
" your own Lives, by meafuring your Strength
'' with the King ; but be reconciled to him,
*' fince you have now fo favourable an Opportu-
*' nity in your hands, from the prefent Difpo-
" fitioii of Xerxes, Enter therefore into an
*' Alliance with us, fincerely and without
'^ fraud, and continue to be a fi'to. People.
*' Thefe, O Athenians, are the words which
<' Mardonius ordered me to fay to you : For
" my own part, I fhall not mention my con-
*' fiant Affeclion to your Srate, becaufe you
*' have had fufficient proof of that in the former
" time. I befeech you then, hearken to the
" Counfel o^ Mardonius -, for I fee you will not
«' be always able to make war againft Xerxes.
" Had I not known this, I fliould never have
*« undertaken to bring you fuch a MelTage ; but
" the King's Power is incomparably greater
Vol. IL Z " than
354 HERODOTUS.
" than thai of all other Mortals, and his Reach
" fo extenfive, that, unlefs you immediately
*« accept the favourable Conditions he offers, I
'' dread the Confequence to you, who lying in
" the way of Danger more than any other of
<' the Confederates, and pofiefling a Country,
'' placed as a Prize between the contending
'« Parties, mud be always moil expofed to
'' Ruin. Let thefe Rcafons prevail with you,
*' and confider the important Advantages you
*' will receive, if the great King forgives you
" alone among all the Grecians, and becomes
<' your Friend.'' Thus fpoke Aleticander. But
the Lacedemonians having been informed that
he was gone to Athens^ in order to perfuade the
Athenians to an Agreement with the Barbarian;
and remembring the Oracles had predided, that
they, together with the reft ot the Dorians-,
fliQuld be ejected out of Peloponnefus by the
Medes and the Athenians, were not a little
afraid that the Athenians would make Peace
with the Perfian ; and therefore refolved forth-
with to fend Ambafilidors to Athens^ who hap-
pened to be prefent in this AlTembly For the
Athenians had purpofely protraded the time of
their meeting, that, as a point of Decency, they
might openly fhew their Intentions to the La-
cedemonians *, not doubting, that when they
fhould hear of a Meflenger coming to Athens
from the Barbarian to treat of Peace, they would
immediately fend to them. By this means A-
lexander had no fooner finifhed his Difcourfe,
than the Spartan Ambaflfadors fpeaking next,
faid, " The Lacedemonians have fent us hither,
*' todefireyou not to introduce Innovations in-
*' to Greece^ nor to hearken to the Propofitions
'' of
Book VIII. URANIA. 355
«' of the Barbarians 5 becaufe fuch A£bions are
'« altogether unjuft, and difhonourable in any
<« of the Grecians, and leaft of all becoming
«« you, for many Reafons. In the firft place,
<« you were the Authors of the War againft our
« Inclination; the Difpute was a.bout your
«' Territories, which is now fpread through all
" Greece ; and what can be more intolerable,
" than that the Grecians fhould be brought in-
** to Servitude by means of the Athenians, who,
" in all preceding Times, have been famous
'« for delivering many Nations from Oppref-
" fion ? We affedionately take part in your
«' Sufferings, we are grieved to fee you twice
*' lo^t the Produce of your Lands, and be fo
" long deprived of your Families and Habita-
*' tions. But in compenfation, the Lacedemo-
" nians, with the other Allies, promife to pro-
" vide Subfiftence for your Wives, and all o-
" ther Perfons unfit to bear Arms, and belong-
" ing to you, as long as the War fhall conti-
<« nue. Be not therefore feduced by the delu-
«' five Colours which Ale:fej, ofT*^^^^, a Man
of the greateft Credit with the Spartans, of any
Stranger, being told by one of the Ephori
what the Athenians had fa id, fpoke to them
in thefe Terms: " The Matter in ftiort, is
I' thus: Iftiie Athenians divide from you, and
join
364 HERODOTUS.
*• join with theBarbarian, he will tnttrPeloponne-
*« /us by Pafiages large enough, notwichdanding
the ftrong Wall you have built upon the Ifth-
mus ; therefore hearken to the Athenians,
before they come to any Refolution that may
*« be prejudicial to Greece'* Such was the
Counfel of Chileus ; which the Ephori having
confidered with Attention, they immediately
the fame night, and without fpeaking to the
AmbafTadors, fent out five thoufand Spartans,
with feven Helots to attend each, under the
Condu6l of Paufanias^ the Son of Cleomhroius.
Thefe Forces fliould have been led by Fliftar-
chus^ x.\\t ^Q^Q^ heomdas \ but becaufe he was
under Age, they were commited to the care of
Paufanias^ who was his Guardian and Coufin-
German: For Cleofnbrotus, the Father of P^^-
mas^nd Son to Anaxandrides^ died in his Re-
turn with the Army, after they had built the
V/all upon the Ifthm.ils: from whence he de-
camp'd with his Forces, becaufe the Sun was
darkened in the Heavens, whilit he facrificed
for Succefsagainll thePerfian. P aufani as choio,
Eurjanax^ the Son of Doris^ a Man of his own
Blood, toafllft him in theConduflofthis Army,
WHEN thefe F^orces were gone from Spar-
ta with Paufanias^ the AmbalTadors knowing no-
thing of their Departure, and defigning to re-
turn forthwith to their Principals, went early
the next morning to the Ephori, and faid, " You
*' are here, O Lacedemonians, at your eafe,
«' celebrating the F'eftival of Hyacinthus^ and di-
*' verting yourfelves, whilft you betray your
'' Allies. But know that the Athenians, in-
" juredbyyou, and deflitute of Succour, will
«' make Peace with the Perfian on fuch Terms
^« as
Book IX. CALLIOPE. 365
*"' as they can obtain. When we have done fo,
*' and are become che King's Allies, we (hall be
** oblig'd to march wich him againft whatever
** Country he fhall lead us, and then you will
** fee the Event of thefe Counfels.'* After the
Ambafladors had thus fpokcn, the Ephori af-
fured them wich an Oach, that their Army was
in full March againft the Foreigners, for by
that n^.me they call the Barbarians, and that
they doubted not they were already arrived at
Oreftia. The Ambafladors not comprehending
this Difcourfe, defired to know their meaning ;
and being much furpriz'd when they heard the
whole Truth, departed with all pofTible Expe-
dition to follow the Troops. Five thoufand
Men more, drawn out of the Places adjacent to
Lacedemon^ marched out at the fiime time to
join Paujanias.
WHILST thefe Forces advanced in dili-
gence towards the Ifthm.us, the Argians, who
had before undertaken to MardoniuSy that they
v/ould prevent the Spartans from going our,
hearing they were actually upon the March, un-
der the Condu(5t of Paufanias, difpatched the
bed Courier they had to Attica ; where, at his
Arrival, he fpoke thus to Mardonius: " The
" Argians have fcnt me to inform you, that the
" Youthof Lacedernon^rQ marched out, and that
*' they could find noway to-hinder them: they
*^ wifh you may take the moft advantageous
'' meafurcs in this Emergency." W^hcn he had
faid thefe words, he went away, in order to
return home ; but Mardonius havino; received
this Information, would not venture to (lay Ion-
ger in Attica, where he had continued to that
time, to fee what the Athenians would do, and
had
^66 HERODOT'US.
had neither intrenched himfelf, nor ravag'd the
Country, being in daily expedlation that the
Athenians would make their Peace. But now-
finding he could not prevail with them, and un-
derftanding how things had paffed, he with-
drew his Army out ot Attica, before Paufanias
arrived at theifthmus, having firil fet fire io A-
thens, and demolifhed whatever remained {land-
ing of the Walls, Houfes, and Temples, laying
all in Heaps of Ruin. He quitted Attica^ be-
caufe the Country is not proper for Cavalry ;
and if he fhould have loft a Battel, he had no
way to get otf except thro' narrow Pafies, in
which a fmall number of Men might have inter-
cepted his Retreat. For thefe Reafons he de-
termined to retire to 'Thebes, and to fight in a
Country commodious for Horfe, and Friends to
the Perfians. In this manner he abandoned At-
iica, and in his Retreat receiv'd a Meffage, with
information, that a Body of a thoufand Lacede-
monians were gone towards Megara: which he
no fooner underftood, than refolving to make his
firft Attempt upon thefe, he turned his March
that way, and fentout his Horfe before to fcour
the Country. So far this Perfian Army pene-
trated into Europe Weftward, and no farther.
AFTER this, Mardonius being informed by
a fecond Mcfiage, that the Grecian Forces were
affembled at the Ifxhmus, returned back by the
way of Decelia, having for his Guides certain
Perfons fent to him by the Boeotians from the
Country adjoining to the River Afopus^ They
condudled him firft to Sphendale, then to Tana-
gra^ where i>e pafled the Night, and the next
day to Colon, a Place belonging to the Thebans.
After his Arrival, he ravaged their Territories
for
Book. IX. CALLIOPE. 367
for Provifions, tho' they were in the Interefl of
the Medes, not out of Enmity to the Thebans,
but compelled by Neceflity : For he refolved to
intrench himfelf with his Army, that he might
have a Place of Refuge, in cafe he fhould not
meet with the Sjcceis he defired in a Battel.
His Camp extended from EryJorisa to the Coun-
try of the Plat^ans, by the v/ay of Hjfia^ ftretch*
ing along the River Afopus^ and was ftrengthen-
ed by a Wall of lefs Circumference than one
might expe6l, having only about ten Stades on
each Front. "While the Barbarians were em-
ployed in this Work, Attagmus^ the Son of Phry-
no^ a Theban, invited Mardo?7ms, with fifty of
the moft eminent Perfians, to a magnificent
Feaft, which he had prepared at Thebes ; and they
came accordingly. The reft of this Relation I
heard from the mouth of Therfander o{ Orchome-
nus^ a Man af great Reputation among the Or-
chomenians. He told me, that he was one of
fifty Thebans, invited by Attaginusio this Feaff,
and that each Perfon had not a Table to him-
felf, but that two Men were placed at each, a
Perfian and a Theban : That after Supper, in
the midfl of their Cups, the Perfian, who fat
by him, asking him, in the Grecian Tongue, of
what Country he was ; and finding by his An-
''wer that he was of Orchomenus^ faid to him :
Since we are Companions, in eating and
drinking at the fame Table, I will leave my
Opinion with you, that you m^ay remember
me ; and forefeeing the Event, may prudent-
ly confult your own Safety. You fee thefe
Perfians, now feail: ing here, and you have fcen
the Army we left encamped upon the River,
Of all thefe you will fee few Survivors in a
" little
368 HERODOTUS.
*t little time." I'herfafider added. That the
Pcrfian, having thus fpoken, fhed abundance of
Tears, and that he himfelf being much aftonifh-
ed at his words, asked him, if thefe things
Ihould not rather be communicated to Mardo-
tiius^ and to thofe Perfons, who, next ro him,
-were the moft confiderable of the Army ? To
which he anfwered, " That which God has
*« determined. Men cannot avert ; befides, a-
«' mong us, the beft Advice prevails with no
<« Man. Many of the Perfians are convinced of
*' thefe things, but we are necefTitated to follow
*< Mardonius ; and the moll pernicious of all
«t the Evils that infeft Mankind, is, when he
" who underdands much, has nothing in his
*' power." This Relation I had from 'Therfan-
der the Orchomenian, who totd me, at the lame
time, that he had given an account of his Dif-
courfe with the Perfians to divers others, before
the Battel was fought at Flatdea,
DURING the time Mardonius v^^^ incamped
in Bceoiia^ all the Grecians of the adjacent Parts
that were in the Intereft of the Medes, fent in
their Forces, and marched with him to Athens ;
except only the Phoceans, who had been con-
ftrained by neceflity to take part with them,
much againfl: their Inclination. Bur, nor many
days after his Arrival at Tbehes^ they alfo joined
him with a thoufand Men well armed, and led
by Harmocydes, a Citizen of principal Authori-
ty among them. When they were arrived at
I'heheSy Mardonius fent out fome Horfe, to order
the Phoceans to encamp by rhemfelves in the
Plain •, which they had no foone" done than all
the Cavalry of the Army appeared in fight, ^y
this means a Rumour was fpread among the
3 Grecian
Book IX. CALLIOPE. 369
Grecian Forces with Mardonius^ that the Horfe
were ordered to mafTacre all the Phoceans with
their Javelins : and after the fame had been alio
divulged among the Phoceans themfelves, their
captain Harmoc^des^ to awaken their Courage,
faid, " Thefe Men, O Phoceans, have a mani-
*' fell Defign to take away our Lives, and I be-
*' lieve theTheflalians are our Accufers. Eve-
'^ ry one of you therefore mud exert himfelf
*« to the utmoft on this occafion \ becaufe we
*' ought rather to die refilling, and doing
" fomething in our own defence, than tamely
" toexpofe ourfelves tofuffera mofldifgraceful
'' Death. Let us then convince fome of thefe
" Barbarians, that they are not a Match for thefe
«' Grecians, whofe Murder they defigned.'*
Thus Harmocjdes encouraged the Phoceans ; and
at the fame time the Horfe having furrounded
them on all fides, moved on in a hoftile Pof-
ture, brandifhing their Javelins, and fome ac-
tually threw. But when they faw the Phoceans
Handing firm, drawn into the clofeft Order,
and fronting every way, they turned about and
retired to their Army. I cannot certainly tell
whether this Cavalry came to deftroy the Pho-
ceans at the defire of the Theffalians, and feeing
them determined to refill, retired for fear of
expofing their Perfons, covering their Retreat
with the Pretext of Orders from Mardonius ;
or whether they came only with a defign to try
the Courage of the Phoceans. But after the
return of the Horfe, Mardonius fent them a Mef-
fage, in thefe words : " Fear nothing, O Pho-
" ceans ! you have given manifeft proof that
*' you are Men of Valour, contrary to the In-
" formation I had received. Bear the Toils of
Vol, IL A a ^' this
370 HERODOTUS.
'* this War with Refolution, and be afTured
** that you (hall never do more for me, and
«« for the King, than we will do for you." Such
was the Event of this Affair concerning the
Phoceans.
WHEN the Lacedemonians were advanced
to the Ifthmus, and encamped with their Ar-
my ; the other Peloponnefians, at leaft as many
as had the common Caufe at heart, having heard
of their Arrival, and perceiving the Spartans
difpofed to march on, thought they could not
Hay behind without difgrace. Accordingly,
after they had performed their Sacrifices aufpi-
cioufly, they all marched out from the Ifth-
mus ; and advancing to Eleufts^ facrificed again
there with the fame fortunate Prefages, and
continued their March, in conjundlion with the
Athenians, who arriving from Salamis, had
joined the Peloponnefians at Eleufts, When they
were advanced to Er'jthra in B(eotiay and per-
ceived the Barbarians encamped by the River
Afo-puSy they confultcd together, and placed
their Camp right againft: the Enemy, at the
foot of the Mountain Cytheron : But Mardonius
finding that the Grecians declined to come out
into the Plain, fent all his Cavalry, commanded
by Mafijiius, a Man of great Efteem among the
Perfians, and called by the Grecians Macifius, to
infult their Camp. He mounted a Nifean Horle
that wore a Bridle of Gold, and all other Fur-
niture fuitably magnificent. The Cavalry ad-
vancing to the Camp of the Grecians, made
their Attacks by Parties, in which they did
great mifchief, and challenged them under the
name of Women. In thefe Attempts the Me-
gareans, who were accidentally pofted in that
2 part.
Book IX. CALLIOPE. 371
part, which was mofl: accceffible, and lay moft
expofed to the Enemies Horfe, finding them-
fclves hard prefled, fenc a Trumpeter to the
Grecian Generals, with a MefTage, which he
delivered in thefe Terms : '' The Megareans
'' n^y thus, Friends and Allies, we are notable
*' alone to fudain the Efforts of the Perfian
" Horfe, having had the fame Station from the
" beginning, in which we now are, and where
" we have hitherto maintained ourfelves by our
« Conltancy and Fortitude, though not with-
*' out great difficulty •, but now, unlefs you
« will fend fome other Forces to relieve us, we
'« mud abandon our Pod/' When the Meflen-
ger had thus fpoken, Paufanias founded th^
Grecians, to fee if any of them would volunta*
rily offer to march into that Quarter to relieve
the Megareans. But after they had all refufed,
the Athenians undertook the Charge with a
Body of three hundred chofen Men, led by
Ol'jmpiodorus^ the Son of Lampon, Thefe were
they who took upon them to defend that Foil,
which the reft of the Grecians at Erfhra had
declined •, and being accompanied by a Party of
Archers, chofen by themfelves, fought the Ene-
my for fome time : till at laft, as the Cavalry
continued to attack in Squadrons, the Horfe of
Mafiftius appearing before the reft, was wounded
in the Side with an Arrow ; and rifing upright,
impatient of the Pain, threw his Rider to the
ground. The Athenians feeing Mafiftius fall,
immediately furrounded him ; and having firft
feized his Horfe, killed him, as he endeavoured
to defend himfelf. Yet this they could not do
prcfently, becaufe he wore a Cuirafs underneath
covered with Mails of Gold and a purple
A a 2 Cloke
372 HERODOTUS.
Cloke for his upper Garment, They tried in
vain to penetrate his Cuirafs ; which an Athe-
nian perceiving, thruft him into the Eye, and
by that Wound he fell down and died. His
own Troops at firfl: knew nothing of his Death ;
for they neither faw him, when he fell from his
Horfe, nor when he was killed, nor even, at
the time of their Retreat, had they heard of
the Accident. But coming to make a halt,
they prefently enquired for their General, be-
caufe they perceived there was no Commander ;
and as foon as they were informed of his Fate,
animating one another, they all together pufhed
their Horfes againft the Enemy, in order to car-
ry off the dead Body. When the Athenians
faw that they no longer attacked in Parties, but
with their whole Force, they called out for Suc-
cour to the reft of the Army : Yet before the
Infantry could come to their Relief^ the Dif-
pute about the Body of Mafiftius was io fharp
and unequal, that the three hundred, being un-
able to keep their Ground, were obliged to re-
tire : But after the Grecian Forces came in to
their Affiftance, the Enemies Horfe not daring
to continue the Fight, abandoned the dead Bo-
dy, with many of their Men killed upon the
Place •, and retiring to the diftance of about
two Stades to confult together, refolved to re-
turn to Mardonius, becaufe they had then no
General. When they arrived in the Camp,
Mardonius, and all the Army, broke out into
the loudeft Lamentations for the Death of M^-
fijlius, cutting off not only their own Hair, but
that of their Horfes and Cattel of Draught. Their
Ejulations were heard all over Bceotia^ as for
the Lofs of a Man, who, next to Mardoniusy
* was
^
Book IX. CALLIOPE. 373
was in mofl Efteem among the Perfians, and
with the King. In this manner the Birbarians
lamented the Death of Mafiftius^ according to
the Cuftom of their own Country
THE Grecians having thus fuflained and
repulfed the Enemies Cavalry, were much en-
couraged ; and becaufe their Men, out of a
defire to view the Body of MaJJftius, left their
Stations in great numbers, they placed it on a
Chariot, and carried it through every Quarter
of the Camp ; a Spedlacle deferving admira-
tion, on account of his Stature and Comelinefs.
After this they refolved to march down into the
Territories of the Platsans, judging thofe Parts
much more commodious for their Camp, than
the Country about Erytbra, in divers refpedls,
and efpecially that they might be well fupplied
with Water. For this reafon having determined
to encamp near the Spring of Gargapbia, which
is in that Country, they marched with their
Arms by the foot of Mount Cytberon^ at a little
diftance from Hyfia, into the Territories of
PlatcEa^ where when they arrived, they en-
camped in a Plain, intermixed with fome fmall
Elevations of Ground, near the Gargaphiaa
Spring, and the Temple of the Hero Andro-
crates^ affigning a feparate Quarter to the
Troops of every Nation. In the Diftribution
of thefe Stations a long Difpute arofe be-
tween the Tegeans and the Athenians, both
fides claiming a Right to be placed at the Head
of one of the Wings, and alledging their an-
tient and late A6lions to juftify their Preten-
fions. " We, faid the Tegeans, have always
*' been honoured with this Poll among the al-
«^ liesj whenever the Peloponnefians have
A a 3 <' marched
374 HERODOTUS.
*' marched out with united Forces, from the
«« time in which the Heraclides attempted to re-
♦* turn into Peloponnefus^ after the Death of Eu-
*^ ryftheus j and we then obtained thisDignity in
*' the following manner : When we, in conjunc-
** tion with the Achaians and lonians of Pelopon-
*' nefus^ had marched to the Ifthmus, and were
<« encamped in fight of the Invaders, Hyllus faid
** publickly, that they ought not to expofe the
«' Armies to the danger of a Battel ; but that
«' the Peloponnefians ought rather to pick out
*' the Man they fhould think the mofl valiant of
*^ all their Camp, to fight fingjy with him, and
*' fo put an end to the Difpute. The Pelopon-
*« nefians accepted the Condition, and an Agree-
«« ment, confirmed by an Oath, was made be-
*« tween both Armies, in thefe Terms : If Hyllus
«« conquer the Peloponnefian Captain, the Coun-
'« tries that were pofTeflfed by his Father, fhall
«' be reftored to him ; but if he be conquered,
*' the Heraclides (hall depart with their Army,
<^ and not endeavour to return into Pelofonnefus
*' during the fpace of an hundred years. On
« this occafion Echemus^ the Son of jEropus^
*' and Grandfon of Phegeus^ our King and Ge-
*' neral, being preferred by the Confederates be-
*' fore all others, to his great fatisfadion, fought
♦' the Duel, and killed Hjllus. By that Adion
«« we obtained of the Peloponnefians feveral great
*' Prerogatives, which we enjoy to this day ;
« and particularly that of having the Polt of
*' Honour in one of the Wings, whenfoever we
*' (hould march out upon an Expedition by com-
«« mon Confent. We pretend not to conteft
*' with you, O Lacedemonians, but are ready
«« to give you the Preference, and to acquiefce
*« in
BooklX. CALLIOPE. 375
'< in the choice you Jfhall make: Only we
*' challenge the leading of the other Wing, ac-
*' cording to the Cuflom of former times. Be-
«« fides, though we fhould fetafide the Merit of
*« the Adion we have mentioned, we are yet
«' more worthy of that Station than the Athe-
*« nians, on account of the many profperous
*« SuccefTes we have had, in conjunction with
«' your Forces, as well as with others. For
<' thefe Reafons we ought to obtain the fecond
«< Poll of Honour, and not the Athenians 5
<« whofe Adlions, either old or new, are no
« way comparable to ours." To this Speech,
the Athenians anfwered, *' We are not igno-
«' rant, that thefe Forces were afTembled, inor-
« der to fight the Barbarian, and not to difpute
<« about Precedency: Yet the Tegeans having
«« thought fit to mention the great Adionsthey
'« have done, both in antient and latter time,
«« have put us under a NecefTity of (hewing you
«' that for our Anceftors Merit and our own,
«< wej ought always to be preferred before the
*« Arcadians: We alone received the Heracli-
*t des, (whofe Captain thefe Men boaft to have
*' kill'd at the lithmus) after they had been re-
s' jedled by all the Grecians, to whom they ap-
«' plied themfelves for Protedion, when they
«' fled from the Oppreffion of the Mycenians i
** and joining with them, we punifhed the In-
*' iohncc of Euriflheusy and defeated the Forces
»' ofthofe, who were then in pofTeflion of P^/(?-
«<^ ponnefus. We made war upon the Cad masans;
*« in which, having recovered the Bodies of the
«' Argians, who were kill'd in the Expedition
*« of Pi^/pif^j againft Thebes^ and lay unburied,
46 we intcrr'd them at Ekufis^ in our own
Aa4 " Coun-
376 HERODOTUS.
*' Country : We fought fuccefsfully againfl: the
*' Amazons, when arriving from the River Jber-
*' modon^ they invaded Attica ; and in the great
*' Adions perform'd during the Trojan War,
*< we were inferior to none. But to what pur-
*« pofe fhould we mention thefe things? For
*' perhaps thofe who were than valiant, may
«« have degenerated ; and thofe who had Httle
om approaching that Ri-
ver, and conftrain'dto water at the Gargaphian
Spring only. In this Condition of things, defti-
tute of Water for the Army, and put into great
fonfufion by the Birbarian Horfe, the Grecian
Generals went together to the right Wing, in
order to deliberate about thefe, and other Af-
fairs. For though their Circumftances were bad
in thefe Particulars, yet they were in much
greater perplexity for want of Provifions ; which
chey could not receive from Peloponnefus^ becaufe
^he
Book IX. CALLIOPE. 391
the Enemies Cavalry being Mafters of the Paf-
fages, hindred the Servants they had fen tth-
ther, from returning with Convoys to the Camp.
In this Aflembly the Captains refolv'd, if the
Perfian fhould defer their Attack all that day,
to remove with the Army into an Ifland, ten
Stades diftant from the River Afo^us, and the
Spring of Gargaphia, were they were then
encamped. This Ifland lies oppofite to the
City of Platc^a^ and is in fome meafure join'd
to the Continent ; For the River, defcending
from Mount Cytheron^ and running into the
Plain, divides its Streams for the fpace of
about three Scades, and then rejoining, forms
an IQand, which is cali'd by the Name of Oeroe \
who, as the Inhabitants fay, was the Daughter
Q^ Afopus. Into this Place the Grecians deter-
mining to remove, that they might have afuf-
ficient Supply of Water, and be no longer in-
feited by the Enemies Horfe, agreed to decamp
in the Night, at the time of placing the fecond
Watch, left, as they quitted their Camp, they
fhould bedifcovered, anddifturb'd by the Per-
fian Cavalry in their March. They alfo re-
folv'd, that when they fhould arrive where the
Afopian Oeroe is encompaffed by the Waters
which defcend from C'jtheron^ they would detach
one half of their Forces to that Mountain, in
order to bring in aConvoy of Provifions, which
had ftopped there for fear of the Enemy. Hav-
ing taken thefe Refolutions, they continued all
that day in their Camp, and fufFer'd much by
the Horfe : But in the Evening the Enemy re-
tir'd -, and when the Hour of Night was come,
in which they had agreed to decamp, the greater
part took up their Arms, and marched away
B b 4 without.
392 HERODOTUS.
without any Inrention of going to the Place ap-
pointed: Whilil others, upon their breaking
Up, being defirous to avoid the Enemies Caval-
ry, made towards PlatcBa-, and arriving at the
Temple o^Juno^ which (lands before the City,
twenty Stades didant from the Spring of Gar-
gaphia, grounded their Arms, and encamped
there. Paufanias having feen thefe Forces file
off out of the Camp, and fuppofing they were
marching to the Rendezvous, order'd the La-
cedemonians to take up their Arms, and fol-
low. All the reft of the Leaders were ready
to obey, when Amomphareius^ the Son of Po-
Hades, Captain of the Pitanean Divifion, pro-
tefted he would not fly from the Barbarians, nor
willingly bring a Difgrace upon Sparta ; and
was the more aftoniQied at what he faw, be-
caufe he had not been prefent in the Council
where this Refolution was taken. Paufanias
and EuryanaXj not a little difturb'd at his Re-
fufal, and more deeply concern'd to leave the
Pitanean Cohort behind them, left by executing
the Meafures they had concerted with the reft
of the Grecians, A?nompharetU5^ and all thofe
who were under his Condud, fhould be cut in
pieces, fufpended the Departure of the Spartans,
and endeavour'd to difTuade him from his Pur-
pofe. But whilfl they were exhorting Amom-
fharetus, that he alone of all the Lacedemonians
and Tegeans would not fuffer himfcjf to be left
in the Camp, the Athenians well knowing the
Genius of the Spartans, and that they are ac-
cuflom'd to fay one thing and mean another,
continued in their Station, contenting them-
felves, when they faw the Army begin to move,
tQ fend a Horfeman to fee, if indeed the La-
cedemonians
BooklX. CALLIOPE. 393
cedemonians intended to decamp, or had abfo-
lutely refolv'd to flay ; and in that cafe, to en-
quire of Paufanias what was fit to be done.
This MefTenger arriving, found the Lacedemo-
nians drawn up in their Poft, and their princi-
pal Leaders engag'd in a warm Debate; For
though Ei^ryanax a.nd Paufanias had endeavoured
to perfuade Amompharetus^ not to bring the
Lacedemonians into the danger of continuing
fingly in the Camp, yet, having not been able
to prevail with him, they were fallen into an
open Conteftation, when the Athenian MefTen-
ger arriv'd. In this Difpute, Amompharetus
taking up a Stone with both his Hands, and
laying it down at the Feet of Paufanias^ faid,
" There is my Voce, to tellify that we ought
^' not to fly from the Strangers:*' meaning the
Barbarians. But Paufanias telling him he was
diflradled, and not in his right Senfes, turn'd
to the MefTenger, and in Anfwer to the Queflions
he was inflruded to ask, bid him report the
prefent Condition of their Affairs to the Athe-
nians, and their earnefl Defire, that they would
join in one common Refolution, and adl in re-
lation to their Departure, as the Lacedemonians
Ihould do. With this Anfwer the MefTenger
returned to the Athenians, and the Difpute
continued till the Morning *, when Paufanias
having flaid to that time, and fuppofing, as in-
deed happen'd, thsii Amompbarelus would not be
left behind, gave the Signal, and marched away
by the Hills, with the refl of the Lacedemo-
nians, and the Tegeans. On the other hand,
the Athenians marched in order of Battel, by
the Way of the Plain , becaufethe Spartans ap-
prehending the Enemies Horfe, kept clofe to
the
394 HERODOTUS.
the higher Ground, about the Foot of the
Mountain Cytberon. But when Amompharetus
faw that Paufanias, with the reft, had adually
Jefc the Camp, he thought they had deferted
him on purpofe, and taking up his Arms, Jed
his Men flowly after the main Body : Which
neverthelefs, after a March of about tenSrades,
halted at the River Molois, in the Plain of Ar-
giopis^ (where a Temple ftands dedicated to the
iLlufian Ceres) in order to wait his coming up,
or elfe to return to his afTiftance, if he and his
Forces fhould perfift in their Refolution, not to
Jeave their Station. However, at lensith Amom-
pharetus join'd the reft of the Army, and the
Birbarian Horfe went to attack the Camp, as
they v^^ere accuRom'd to do: But finding no
Man in the Place, where the Enemy had en-
camped, they purfued without delay, and over-
taking the Grecians, incommoded them in their
March.
WHEN M^ri(?;;fz^i was inform'd that theGre-
cians wereretir'd by night, he view'd the aban-
don'd Camp ; and having fent for Throax o^La-
rijpiy with his Brother Eur^ipilus and Thrafydius^
he fpoke to them in thefe Terms : " What will
*' you fay now, O Aleuadians, to the things
«' you fee? You, who being Neighbours to the
" Lacedemonians, affirm, they were the mofl
«« warlike of all People, and that they would
" never quit the Field of Battel. Thefe Men
*' you faw, firft fliifting their Station, and now
" we all know, they fled away laft night, be-
'' cauTe they found they were to engage againft
*' thofe Forces, which are defervedly efteem'd
" the mod valiant in the World ; demonftrating
«' by thefe Actions, that having no real Worth
'^ in
Book. IX. CALLIOPE. 395
*' in themfelves, they made only a vainOften-
^' tation of their Bravery among the Grecians,
^« who have no more Valour than they. I rea-
" dily forgave you, when you excoll'd the
" Spartans, becaufe you knew fomething of
" their Actions, and were altogether unac-
" quainted with the Perfians ♦, but I wondered
'' more at Artahazus^ who was in fo great fear
^' of the Lacedemonians, that he bafely ad-
" vifed us, as a thing expedient, to break up
*' with our Army, and retire to Thebes-, in ex-
*' pedation of a Siege, which the King fhaH
*' know from me, though of that I fhali fay
" more another time. At prefent, feeing the
<' Grecians have fhewn fo little Courage, we
^' ought not to fuffer them to efcape out of our
*' hands ; but by a fpeedy Purfuit make them
" bear the Penalty of all the Mifchiefs they
*« have done to the Perfians. Having finifh'd
thefe Words, he put himfelf at the head of the
Perfians, and pa fling the y^/^^/j with precipita-
tion, purfued the Grecians, as if they had be-
taken themfelves to flight •, but overtook only
the Lacedemonians, and the Tegeans, not per-
ceiving the Athenian Forces, who, turning
fliort, had pafied from the Kills into the Plain.
When the other Commanders of the Barbarian
Troops faw the Perfians advancing in purfuic
of the Grecians, they alfo took up their Stan-
dards, and haftened after them, v/ithout ob-
ferving either Rank or Order, crouding toge-
ther in Multitudes, and making a hideous Noife,
as if they had been fure of tearing the Grecians
in pieces. Paufanias.^ in the mean time, find-
ing himfelf prelTed by the Enemies Cavalry, dif-
patched a Meflfenger on horfeback to the Athe-
nians
3p6 HERODOTUS.
nians, with this Mefiage : " Men of Athens^ in
the great Queftion before us, whether Greece
fhall be enilaved, or continue free, our Al-
lies have betrayed both you and the Lacede-
monians, and fled away during the laft night.
What remains now to be done, is to defend
ourfelves in the beft manner we can, and to
fuccour each other. Had the Enemies Horfe
attacked you firft, we and the Tegeans who
are with us, and have not betrayed the com-
mon Caufe, ought to have aflifbed you : But
feeing all their Cavalry is fallen upon us, you
are obliged in juftice to come to the Succour
of that part which ismoft hardly preffed. If
any infuperable Impediment (hould hinder
you from coming to our Relief, we promife
ourfelves, from the great Zeal you have
fhewn for carrying on the prefent War, that
you will not refufe to fend us fome of your
Men armed with pointed Weapons." The
Athenians no fooner heard thefe Words, than
they prepared to fuccour the Lacedemonians to
the utmoft of their power ; but as they were
actually marching with that D.^fign, they were
attacked, and to their great regret prevented,
by thofe Grecians who fided with the Perfian,
and had been drawn up oppofue to the Athe-
nians. The Lacedem.onians and the Tegeans
being thus deprived of AlTiftance, and neceffi-
rated to engage alone againft Alar donius and ihQ
Forces with him, began to ofier their ufual Sa-
crifices: The former, including the light-
armed Men, amounted to the number of fifty
thoufind ', and the Tegeans, who had never
parted from the Lacedemonians, to three thou-
fand. During thefe Sacrifices, which were not
at
Book IX. CALLIOPE. 35^7
at all favourable, they had many Men killed*
and more wounded, by the great number of
pointed Arms which the Perfians lee fly among
them, whilft they themfelves flood covered
with their Bucklers, When Paufanias faw the
Spartans fo terribly galled, and their SacriBces
dillurbed, turning his Eyes towards the Tem-
ple of Juno in Platcea^ he prayed the Goddefs,
that his Hopes might not be fruflrated ; and be-
fore he had finifhed thefe words, the Tegeans
began to advance againfl the Barbarians. Im-
mediately after the Prayer of Paufanias^ the
Lacedemonians facrificed happily, and in a lit-
tle time marched out likewife againfl the Per-
fians ; who laying afide their Bows and Darts,
flood firm, and maintained a long and obfli-
nate Fight near the Temple of Ceres^ till both
fides came to clofe: For the Barbarians ven-
turing to lay hold of the Enemies Lances, broke
them in pieces. And indeed in Courage and
Strength the Perfians were not inferior to the
Grecians ; but they were ilJ-armed, ignorant of
military difcipline, and no way comparable to
their Adverfaries in prudent Management : So
that whether one, or ten, or more, or lefs, fell
in among the Lacedemonians, they were cer-
tainly dellroyed, becaufe they obferved no man-
ner of Order. Neverthelefs, in that part where
Mardomus, mounted on a white Horfe, foughc
at the head of a thoufand Men, the befl a-
mong the Perfians, there the Grecians were at-
tacked with moft Vigour: For as Jong as he
continued alive, the Perfians made a ftreniious
Defence, and killed many of the Spartans ; but
when Mardonius fell, and the chofen Troops
about him were defeated^ the reft turned their
backs.
398 HERODOTUS.
backs, and fled before the Lacedemonians, be-
ing much embarrafled with their Garments, and^
fighting naked againft armed Men. Here
the Death of Leonidas was revenged by the
Spartans upon MardoniuSy, according to the O-
racle •, and here the moll glorious Victory, we
ever heard of, was obtained by Paufanias-, the
Son of Cleomhrotus^ and Grandfon to Anaxandri-
desj whofe Anceftors I mentioned before in the
Genealogy of Leonidas, for they were the fame*
Mardonius died by the hand of Aimneftus^ a con-
fiderable Spartan, who, fome time after this Per-
fian War, was killed at Slenycierus, with three
hundred Lacedemonians, fighting againft all
the Forces of the MefTenians. The Perfians
thus put to the Rout by the Spartans in the
Territories of Platcea^ fled in cohfufion to their
Camp, which they had fortified with a Wall of
Wood in the Plains of Thehes, But I am fur-
priz'd, that feeing the Battle was fought near
the Grove of Ceres, not one of the Barbarians
was feen to enter into the Temple, nor to die
in any pare of the facred Ground, tho' great
numbers fell in other Places •, and if a Man
may be permitted to form a Conjedure con-
cerning divine things, I imagined the Goddefs
would not receive them, after they had burnt
her Royal Temple at Eleufis, Such was the E-
vcnc of this Battel.
1 N the mean time Artahazus, the Son of
Tharnaces, who from the beginning had difap-
proved the King's affenting to leave Mardonm
in Greece, and who, by ail the Reafons he could
alledge, was not able to prevail with him to
forbear fighting, thought fit to adl in this man-
ner ; Being difpleafed at the Gondudl of Mar do-
mus-i
Book IX. CALLIOPE. 399
nius^ and rightly judging what the IfTue would
be, he gave Orders, during the Battel, for all
the Forces he commanded, confiding of forty
thoufand Men, to follow him wherefoever he
fhould lead them, with the fame diligence they
Ihould fee him make: And after he had given
thefe Inftruflions, advancing with his Men, as
if he defigned to charge the Enemy, he difco-
vered the Perfians flying. Upon which, conti-
nuing no longer to lead his Forces in an order-
ly manner, he prefently betook himfelf to flight
not towards the Walls of Wood, nor the City
of Thebes, but into the Territories of the Pho-
ceans, with intention to reach the Hellefpont as
foon as he could.
1 N this Battel, while the refl: of the Gre-
cians in the King's Army behaved themfelves ill
on purpofe, the Boeotians maintained an obiti-
nate Fight againfl: the Athenians. In particular
the Thebans, who favoured the Medes, and
would not remit of their utmofl: Eflbrts, foughc
v/ith fuch Ardour, that three hundred of the
principal and mod valiant were killed by the
Athenians upon the Place: And the refl, after
they were broken and put to flight, would no£
follow the Perflans, nor the vail multitude of
their Aflx)ciates, who either fought not at all,
or performed nothing confiderable, but retired
to Thehes, The Barbarians appear to me to
have been totally influenced by the Condudt of
the Perlians on this occafion: For when they
faw the Perflans flying, they abandoned the
Field, even without flriking a Blow, and by
their example at length betook themfelves all
to flight, except fome of the Horfe, confifling
of BcEotians and others. Yet thefe, in their
3 Retreat,
400 HERODOTUS.
Retreat, being neareft to the Enemy, were of
fome advantage to thofe that fled, by defending
their Friends from the Grecians ; who vigo-
roufly purfuing their Vi6lory, preffed hard upon
the broken Forces of Xerxes^ and made a great
Slaughter among them. During this Purfuit,
a MefTage was brought to thofe Grecians who
had abfented themfeJves from the Battel, and
retired to the Temple of Juno, that the Armies
had engaged, and that the Grecians with Pau-
fanias were vidorious. Upon which News they
haftened back, without obferving any kind of
Order \ the Corinthians by the way of the Hills,
that leads diredly to the Temple of Ceres ; and
the Megareans, with the Phliafians, by the
Plain : But the Theban Cavalry, commanded
by Afopodorus^ the Son of Timander^ feeing the
Megareans and Phliafians approaching in fo dif-
orderly a manner, pufhed on their Horfes im-
mediately, and falling upon them, killed fix
hundred on the fpot, and drove the reft to the
Mountain Cytheron. Thus thefe Men fell with-
out Honour.
THE Perfians and the reft of the Multi-
tude arriving within their Intrenchments ;
mounted the Towers before the coming of the
Lacedemonians, and improved their Works in
ikiZ beft manner they could : So that when the
Lacedemonians arrived, they found a vigorous
Refiftance from the Walls ; and indeed fo long
as the Athenians were abfent, the Barbarians
not only defended themfelves, but were too
hard for the Lacedemonians, who knew not
how to attack a Fortification : But upon the
Arrival of the Athenians, the Adlion grew hot-
ter on both fides, and continued for a long
time 5
BooklX, CALLIOPE. 401
time 5 till, in the end, by their Valour an^
Conftancy, the Athenians mounted the Walls,
and opened a PalTage to the reft of the Gre-
cians. The firft that entered by the Breach
were the Tegeans, who plundered the Tent of
Mardonius^ and, among other things, took a-
way a Manger for Horfes, all of folid Brafs,
and admirably wrought ; which they afterwards
placed in the Temple of the Ah^n Minerva :
But the reft of their Booty they brought to the
common Heap, and depofited with that taken
by the other Grecians. The Barbarians, af-
ter the forcing of their Intrenchment, rallied
no more, nor thought of defending themfelves %
but terrified to fee their Troops, confiding of
fo many Myriads, intercepted within a fmall
Compafs of Ground, fell into the utmoft Con-
fl:ernation. By which means they were fo eafi-
ly cut in pieces by the Grecians, that of three
hundred thoufand Men, not full three thoufand
efcaped the Sword, befides thofe forty thou-
fand who fled away with Artahazus. Of the
Lacedemonian Spartans, ninety one were killed
in the Battel \ of the Tegeans fixteen, and of
the Athenians fifty two. Thofe among the
Barbarians who fought bed, were, of the Foot,
the Perfians ; of the Horfe, the Saces ; and of
the Generals, Mardonius, Of the Grecians, the
Tegeans and Athenians acquired great Glory,
but the Lacedemonians o-reiter : For though
the former beat all the Forces they engaged, yet
the Lacedemonians broke and defeated the
firmeft part of the Enemy's Army. But among
all the Lacedemonians, no Man, in my Opi-
nion, gave fo great Proofs of Valour as Ariflo-
demus^ who was before difgraced and dif-
VoL. II. C c efteemed,
402 HERODOTUS.
efteemed, becaufe he alone, of tht* three hun-
dred, had faved himfelf from the Slaughter of
Tbermopyle. After him Pofidonius, Philocyon, and
Amompharetus diftinguifhed themfelves among
the Spartans ; yet when the Queftion came to be
debated, who had behaved himfelf beft, thofe
Spartans, that were prefent, gave judgment,
that Arlftodemus^ refolving to die in the fight of
his Countrymen, to wipe off the Blemifh of his
former Condu6t, and to that end breaking his
Rank, and advancing beyond his Companions,
had performed Anions of great Glory -y but
that Poftdonius having no occafion to defire
Death, deferved greater Honour for the Valour
he fliewed on this occafion. Perhaps they gave
that Judgment from a Motive of Envy. How-
ever, they paid great Honours to all thofe that
died in the Battel, excepting only j^riftodemus^
who was deprived of that Glory, becaufe he
had predetermined to lofe his Life for the fore-
soing Reafon. Thefe were the Men who ac-
quired the greateft Fame in the Battel of Platcea,
For Gallic ratides^ the moft valiant, not only of
the Lacedemonians, but of all others in the
Grecian Arm.y, died not in the A6lion ; but
(landing in his Rank, after Paufamas had facri-
ficed, he received a Wound in the Side by an
Arrow ; and, as they carried him off, regret-
ting his Fate, he turn'd to Aimneftus a Flatasan,
and told him, that he was not at all difcon-
tented to die for Greece ; but to die before he
had fought, or done any thing worthy of him-
felf, and of his Zeal to the common Caufe. Of
the Athenians, Sophanes^ the Son of EutjchideSy
a Decelian, is reported to have dillinguifhed
himfelf by his Valour, The Inhabitinrs of
Decdia^
Book IX, CALLIOPE. 403
Decelia, as the Athenians fay, were the Au-
thors of a thing, which has been ever fince of
advantage to them : For, in antient time, when
the Tyndarides, feektng to recover Helena^ en-
tered the Territories of Attica with a numerous
Army, and difpofleficd the People ot their Ha-
bitations, not knowing to what Place fhe was
carried ; the Decelians, and, as fome fay, De^
celus himfelf, difturbed at the Injury donp to
Thefeus^ and fearing that all the Country of
the Athenians might be ravaged, difcovered the
whole Intrigue, and condudled the Tyndarides
to Aphidna \ which ^itacus^ a. Native of the
Place, delivered into their hands. From, the
time of that Adion, even to this day, the De-
celians have been always treated with fuch
Diftintflion and Preference by the Spartans, thac
in the War, which happened many years after,
between the Athenians and Peloponnefians, the
Lacedemonians pillaged the reft of Attica, and
left Decelia untouched. Of that place was So-
phanes, who diftinguifhed himfelf above ail the
Athenians on this occafion \ but two difFerenc
Accounts are given of him : Some fay, he car-
ried an Anchor of Iron faftened to the Girdle
of his Breaft-plate with a Chain of Brafs, which
he fixed before hini when he approached the
Enemy, to hinder them from forcing him out of
his Rank ; and when they were repulfed, tak-
ing up his Anchor again, he purfued with the
reft. But others, varying from this Account,
fay, that he had no Anchor of Iron faftened to
his Cuirafs, but one engraved on his Shield,
which was made to turn round inceflfantly.
Sophanes did another fignal Adion, when the
Athenians befieged AE.gina : For in a fingle
C c 2 Combat
404 HERODOTUS.
Combat he killed Euryhates of Jrgos, who had
been victorious in all the five Olympian Con-
tentions. Bat fome time after the Perfian War,
commanding the Athenian Forces jointly with
Leagrus the Son of Glaucon^ he was killed by
the Edonians at Baton, fighting for the Mines
of Gold, with the fame Valour he had fhewn
on all other Occafions.
WHEN the Barbarians were thus defeated
at Plat<^a, a Woman, who had been a Concu-
bine to Pbara?idales, the Son of Tbeafpes, a Per-
fian, hearing of the Difafter of the Perfians, and
of the Vidory obtained by the Grecians, came
voluntarily to the Army, magnificently dreifed,
both fhe and her Attendants, in Gold and the
richeft of their Attire •, and alighting from her
Chariot, went towards the Lacedemonians, who
were ftill employed in the Slaughter of the
Enemy ; when oblerving that Patifamas had the
Diredtion of all things, and having ofien heard
his Name and his Country, (he addreffed her-
felf to him, and embracing his Knees, faid,
« King of Sparta, deliver me, I befeech you,
«•' from a flavifli Captivity. You have already
*' done me one Favour, in deftroying thofe who
'' had no regard either to the Demons or to the
*' Gods. I am of a Coan Family, Daughter
*' to HegetorUeSy the Son of Jntagoras. The
*« Perfian took me away by force at Coos, and
" kept me to this tim.e." " Woman, anfwered
*' Paufanias^ thou haft nothing to fear, partly
'< becaufe thou art come as a Suppliant to feek
*' Protection, and much more if thou haft fpo-
*' ken the Truth, and arc indeed the Daugh-
*' ter of Hegetorides the Coan, who is the beft
'' Friend I have in that Country." Having
thus
o
0
Book IX. CALLIOPE. 40J
thus fpoken, he committed her to the care of
the Ephori, who v^ere prefenr, and afterwards
fent her to JEgina^ where fhe defired to 00.
Prefently after her Departure the Mantineans
arrived with their Forces, when all was over ;
and finding they were come too late to fight,
were much difturbed, and faid, They were yet
worthy in having fome parr in punifhing the
Barbarians. Upon which being informed of
the flight of Artahazus and the Medes, they
purfued them inco 'Thejfaly^ againfb the Opi-
nion of the Lacedemonians ; but at their Re-
turn home, their Leaders were all banifhed.
After them came the Eleans, and fhewing the
fame Regret, marched back again •, but ar-
riving in their own Country, they punifhed
their Captains alfo with Banifhment. Such
was the Condud of the Mantineans, and of
the Eleans,
LAMPON, the Son of Pytheus, one of the
principal Men of Mgina^ being then at Platcea
in the Camp of the iEginetes, came in hafte to
Paufanias *, and folliciting him to a mod de-
teflable Action, faid, " Son of Cleomhrotus^ the
Enterprize you have atchieved, is, beyond
example, great and illuRrious; God has ena-
bled you to acquire more Glory, in pre-
ferving Greece from Servitude, than any o-
«' ther Grecian, we ever heard of, obtained.
" Yet fomething remains to be done, in order
" to render your Name more fam.ous, and to
*' deter all the Barbarians for the future from
daring to irritate the Grecians by unjuft .
Attempts. You know that after Leomdas
was killed at Thermop'^le, Mardonius and Xerxes
*5 took off his Head, and fixed ic on a Pole.
C c 3 '« if
i (
406 HERODOTUS.
*' If you will punidi that Infolence by a juft
*' Retaliation, you will be praifed, not only
*' by all the Spartans, but by the rcR of the
'« Grecians : In a word, if you order Mardo-
*^ nius to be empaled, you revenge the Indig-
*' nity done to your Uncle Leonidas." This he
faid with a defign to pleafe : But Paufanias an-
fwered, '^ Friend of Mgina^ I thankfully ac-
^' cept your good Meaning and provident
Care, but you are far from making a right
Judgment ; for after having highly magnified
me, my Country, and my Atchievement, you
throw all down again, by folliciting me to
" infult the Dead, and telling me I (hall in-
*' creafe my Fame, if I do that, which is more
*' fit to be done by Barbarians than by Gre-
*' cians, rnd which we blame even in them.,
" I cannot therefore aflent to the iEginetes,
*' nor to any other Men who delight in fuch
*' Adtions, contented to pleafe the Spartans^
" and never to do nor to fpeak an unbecom-
*' ing thing. As for Leomdas, whofe Death
*' you exhort me to revenge, I affirm, that, by
*' facrificins; the Lives of fuch an innumerable
*' Multitude, we have made a magnificent Re-
*^ paration to him, and to all thole who fell at
*' Tber?nopyk. Come no more then to me with
*' fuch Difcourfet nor venture to give me fuch
*' Counfel *, and take for a Favour, that you
^' nowefcapeunpunifhed." Z^w/^5« having re-
ceived this anfwer, retired •, and Paufanias^ af-
ter he had caufed Proclamation to be made,
that no Man fliould meddle with the Booty,
commanded the Helots to bring together all
the Riches they could find. Accordingly dif-
perfmg themfelves through the Camp, they
found
Book IX. CALLIOPE, 407
found great qaantities of Gold and Silver in
the Tents j Couches plated with Gold and Sil-
ver ; Bowls, Phials, and other drinking Vef-
fels of Gold, befides boiling Pots of Gold and
Silver, which they found lying in Sacks upon
the Waggons. They took the Chains, Brace-
lets, and Scimetars of Gold from the Dead,
but left the rich Apparel of various Colours, as
things of no value. The Helots purloined
much of the Booty, which they fold to the
iEginetes, producing only fo much as they could
not hide ; and this was the firft Foundation of
the great Wealth of the iEginetes, who purchaf-
ed Gold from the Helots at the Price of Brafs.
With the tenth part of this colleded Treafure,
the Grecians dedicated to the God at Delphi^ a
Tripos of Gold, fupported by a three-headed
Serpent of Brafs, and placed clofe to the Altar
to the God at Olyfnpia^ a Jupiter of Brafs ten
Cubits i^'jh •, and a Neptune of Brafs feven Cu-
bits to the God at the Ifthmus. When they had
taken out this Part, they divided the reft of
the Booty, confifting of Gold, Silver, and o-
ther Treafure, together with the Concubines
of the Perfians, and all the Cattel, according
to tne Merit of each Perfon. How much was
given to thofe who were reputed to have
fought with the greateft Valour in the Battel of
Platcea^ is reported by none ; yet I am of opi-
nion they were confidered in a particular man-
ner. But to Paiifanias they gave the Tenth of
all ; Women, Horfes, Camels, Talents, and
every thing elfe.
AMONG other things reported to have
paiTed in this Expedition, they fay, that when
Xerxes fled out of Greece^ he left all his Equipage
C c 4 to
4o8 HERODOTUS.
to Mardonius v and that Pcufanias feeing fuch
magnificent Furniture of Gold, Silver, and Ta-
peftry of various Colours, commanded the
Cooks and Bakers to prepare a Supper for him,
as they ufed to do for Mardonius : That when
they had fo done, in obedience to his Com-
mand, and Paufanias had viewed the Couches
of Gold and Silver, covered with the richeft
Cufhions, the Tables of the fame Metals, and
the expenfive Supper prepared j furprized at the
Profufion he faw before him, he ordered his
Attendants, with a Smile, to make ready a La-
cedemonian Meal : And that after he had ob-
ferved the vaft difference between the two Sup-
pers, fending for the Grecian Generals, and
jhewing them both the one and the -other, he
faid ; '' I have called you together, O Gre-
*' cians, with a defign to let you fee the Folly
*' of theKingof theMedes; who leading fuch
*« a Life ac home, came hither to pillage us,
^' who fare fo hardly.'* Some time after this
Defeat, many of the Platseans found Treafures
of Gold and Silver, with other Riches buried
under ground ; and among the dead Bodies,
when the Flefh was confumed from the Bones,
which lay together at a certain Place, they dif-
covered a Skull, of one folid Piece, without a-
ny Sutures, They found alfo an upper Jaw,
with all the Teeth diftind, but fhooting from
one fmgle Bone ; and the Skeleton of a Man
five Cubits high.
THE next day after the Battel, Mardonius
was not found among the dead, though by what
Perfon his Body was taken away, I never could
learn with Certainty. But I have heard that ma-
ny Men^ of different Nations, were concerned in
giving
Book IX. CALLIOPE. 409
giving him burial, and I know that divers had
Prefents from Artontes, the Son of Mardonius^
on that account: Yet who, among them all,
was the Man that carried off, and took care
of the Body, I could never difcover ; what-
ever Report has been fpread abroad, concern-
ing Dionyfwphanes the Ephefian, as if he had
buried Mardonius. And thus that Queftion re-
mains undetermin'd. But the Grecians, after
they had parted the Booty in the Fields of P/^-
tcBa^ buried their Dead feparately: The Lace-
demonians made three Graves ; in one of which
they interred Pofidonius^Amompharetus^ Phylocion
^nd Callkrates, who wereof thePriefthood: In
another they put the reft of the Spartans; and
in the third the Helots. The Tegeans buried
all their Dead together in one Grave ; the A-
thenians did the fame ; and fo did the Mega-
reans and Phliafians to thofe of their Forces,
who were killed by the Enemies Cavalry. All
thefe Sepulchres were filled with the Bodies of
Men j but the reft, which are feen about Platcsa^
were erecled, as I am inform'd, by thofe, who
being aftiam.'d of their Abfence from the Battel,
threw up thofe Mounds by common Confenc, to
deceive Pofterity. Among thefe, there is one,
bearing the Name of the ^ginetes ; which, I
have heard, was eredled at their Reqaeft, ten
Years after this War, by Cleades^ the Son ofJu-
iodicus^ 2L Plat2ean, oblig'd to them by the Tyes
ofHofpitality.
WHEN the Grecians had buried their Dead
in the Territories of Platcea^ they took a refo-
lution in Council, to lead their Army to'^TbebeSy
and to demand the Partizans of the Medes, ef-
peclaily Timegemdes and AUaginus^ the Ring-
leaders
410 HERODOTUS.
leaders of the Faction ; and not to depart, tiJl
they had deftroy'd the Cicy, if che Thebans
lliOLild refufe to furrender them. Having all
confented to thefe M^^afures, they broke up j
and on the eleventh Day after the Battel, ar-
rivino; at 'Thebes, demanded the Men: But re-
ceiving a denial from the Thebans, they ravag'd
the Country, and made approaches to the
Walls. On the twentieth Day after thefe Ho-
itilities b^gan, which the Grecians incefTantly
continu'd, 'Timegenldes fpoke thus to the The-
bans: " Men of Thebes, f:rc':iig the Grecians
'^ are refolv'd not to withdraw their Army till
'« either they fhall have taken the Cicy, or you
" deliver us into their hands, we are far from
*« defiring that Bceotia fhould any longer fuffer
*' for our fake: If, under the pretext ofde-
«' manding our Perfons, they defign ro exadta
•' Sam of Money, let us give it by a general
*« Contribution •, for we were not the only Par-
'' tizansofthe Medes, but join'd with them
by general Confent: Neverthelefs, if they
really befiege T'bebes becaufe they would have
*' us deliver'd up, we are ready to juflify our
'' Condudl in their prefence." The Thebans
approving his Propofition, asjuit and feafon-
able, fent to acquaint Paufanias^ that they
w^ere willing to furrender the Ptrfons he de-
manded. After this Agreement was made,
Jtta^ams made his efcapefrom 27?fl;'«^r, but fuTpediing Tome Injury was intended
him, he returned to his Houfe with all pofTi-
ble Diligence ; where finding his Wife fo bar-
baroufly mutilated, he confuJted with his Sons,
and accompanied by them, and others, departed
for Ba£Iria^ defigning to induce the Badrians
to revolt, and to revenge himfelf of the King
in the fevereft manner : In which Defign, as I
conj: dlure, he muft have fucceeded, had he beea
able to arrive among the Badtrians and Sices ;
for he was Governour of Baoiria^ and much be-
loved by both thofc Narions. Bur Xerxes being
informed of his Intentions, fent fome Troops
after him Vv^ith expedition, who killed him and
his Sons upon the way, and cut his Forces in
piece?. Thus died Mafiftes, and fuch Succefs
had Xerxes in his Love.
IT-IE Grecians filling, from My c ale towards
the Hellefpont^ were obliged by tcmpeftuous Wea-
ther lo put in about Le5fon ; and from rhence ar-
riving at J^bjdus^ they perceived the Bridges were
taken in pieces, which they thougnc to have
found entire, and which were the principal Mo-
tive to their Enterprize. Upon this EmiCrgency
Leittychides^ vvith the Peloponnefians, determined
to return roGr^^rf, but the Athenians, with their
General Xa ^ithi}:pus^ refol ved to flay, and to make
an Attempt upon Cherfonefus. Accordingly, after
the Pcjoponnefi.ins were withdrawn, the x4theni-
ans fet fail from Abydus, and landing in Cherfonefus
befieg'd Sefius. To thai Place as to the (trongeft
of tliofe Parts, great Numbers came from the
adjacent Country, when they heard that the
Grecians
Book IX. CALLIOPE. 427
Grecians were arriv'd in the Hellefpont ; and, a-
mong others, Oibazus^d. Perfian from Cardia^ who
had already caufed all the Materials of the Brido--
es to be brought thither. The Inhabitants were
JEolians, but a great Multitude of Perfians and
their Confederates had been drawn togethefj inor-
der to defend the City. The Government of the
whole Province was in the hands of Artay^ies^ a
Perfian of profligate and deteftable Manners,
who had been placed in that Station by Xerxes ;
and by impofing a Fraud upon him, when he
marched to Athens^ had rifled the Treafures of
Proiefilaus^ the Son of Iphicles^ which were at E-
kus. For in the City of Eleus in CherJoneJuSy the
Sepulcher of Protefilaus was erecfted in the midfh
of this Temple; and a great Sum of Money, with
Gold and Silver Plate, Veflels of Brafs, and o-
ther Offerings, were taken from thence bv Ar-
td'^Bes^, in vertue of a Grant from the King ;
which he obtained by this Artifice : •' Sir, [aid
«' he^ here is the Habitation of a Certain Gre-
'' cian, who having enter'u your Terricories with
«' an Army, perifh'd, as he well defcrv'd. Give
'« me the Houfe of this Man, that for die future
*' none may dare to invade any P.